Assessing radioactivity and hazards: analysis of soil, water, and coal samples near a coal-fired thermal power plant and their implications for human health and the environment

Abstract

ABSTRACT The combustion of coal poses significant risks, increasing the radioactive burden on the atmosphere and affecting the health of individuals near coal mines and coal-fired thermal power plants (CFTPPs). A detailed study was conducted within a 3 km radius surrounding the site of Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Limited (BCMCL), Bangladesh’s premier operational coal-fired thermal power plant, during which 50 soil samples, 50 water samples, and 21 coal samples were collected from a variety of locations inside and beyond the BCMCL boundaries, and these samples were then analysed for radioactivity using a high-purity germanium detector. The range of activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the studied soil, water and coal samples were 24–47, 30–76, and 340–570 Bqkg−1; 1.6–2.9, 1.1–3.8, and 53–92 Bqkg−1; 19–57, 20–97, and 78–170 Bqkg−1 respectively. The majority of hazard indices, including absorbed dose rate, gamma index, effective dose, and excess lifetime cancer risk, associated with soil samples were higher than the world average. This indicates that long-term exposure to terrestrial ionising radiation is unsafe for coal miners and the local community. The quantitative measurements of this study have important implications for planning larger and more modern coal-fired power plants. Additionally, the study’s results underscore the need for municipal officials to impose restrictions and closely monitor the release of fly ash in the vicinity of coal-fired power plants. Furthermore, there is a crucial need to monitor the health of workers and locals living near the power plant to safeguard against potential health risks.