Determination of natural radioactivity and essential elemental concentration levels in the vicinity of minjingu mining - Tanzania
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Date
2014-10-03
Authors
Herman, James
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The international body known as the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of
Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) periodically reviews the effects of ionizing radiation on the
environment. Last year, the Committee, for the first time, issued a report that contained a
review specifically focused on the effects of ionizing radiation on plants and animals. While
the review contained no surprising findings, it does serve to focus attention on the changing
nature of the scientific community's assessment of radiation's potential environmental effects.
The release of radioactive wastes to the environment is known to increase the radiation
exposure to humans. Minjingu, as one of the largest phosphate mine in Tanzania is expected
to increase radiation exposure to its vicinity. This work aims to review the effect of naturally
occuring radioactive substances in the villages around Minjingu since last research, 2000.
This work will determine background radioactivity levels in soil and background
concentration levels of essential elemental composition in soil and to estimate the committed
effective dose received by the population in the vicinity of Minjingu mining phosphate.
Gamma ray spectrometry and Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorecence (EDXRF) will be used
for sample analysis.
Description
school of Pure and Applied Sciences