Abstract
In this work, the specific activities of natural radionuclides, namely 238U series, 232Th series and 40K, have been measured in collected sedimentary phosphate deposits samples from El-Hamraween, El-Quser and Safaga phosphate mines in Egypt. HPGe γ-spectrometry was used. This study was undertaken to estimate the radiation hazard indices in phosphate mining at the studied mines on their occupational workers, to establish correlation relationships between the some measured heavy metals such as As, Cd and Pb in blood workers and their concentration in phosphate rock ores and to determinate the biomarkers in the blood workers such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The phosphate mine sample of El-Hamrawein has the lowest activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in comparison to the phosphate mine samples of El-Quseir and Safaga (El-Hamrawein 226Ra activity concentrations varied from 222.4 to 255.8 Bq·kg-1, 122.4 to 188.3 Bq·kg-1 and 115.4 to 165.8 Bq·kg-1 for Safaga, El-Quseir and El-Hamrawein, respectively. For 232Th activity concentrations varied from 135.6 to 212.3 Bq·kg-1, 112.8 to 167.4 Bq·kg-1 and 132.8 to 188.6 Bq·kg-1 for Safaga, El-Quseir and El-Hamrawein, respectively. For 40K activity concentrations varied from 225.2 to 312.8 Bq·kg-1, 168.7 to 268.9 Bq·kg-1 and 95.2 to 155.8 Bq·kg-1 for Safaga, El-Quseir and El-Hamrawein, respectively. The workers of old ages have higher concentration of the investigated heavy metals than those of young ages. There is a good relation between the concentration of the investigated metals in phosphate mine samples and their concentration in blood of the occupational workers in these mines.
Highlights
Studies of natural environmental radiation and radioactivity are of great importance and interest for environmental chemistry as well as many other disciplines
For 40K activity concentrations varied from 225.2 to 312.8 Bq∙kg−1, 168.7 to 268.9 Bq∙kg−1 and 95.2 to 155.8 Bq∙kg−1 for Safaga, El-Quseir and El-Hamrawein, respectively and these concentrations are lower than that value recommended by IAEA 2000. the obtained results indicate that the phosphate mine sample of El-Hamrawein has the lowest activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in compared to the phosphate mine samples of El-Quseir and Safaga (El-Hamrawein < El-Quseir < Safaga)
The remarkable highly activity concentrations are record in surface lower bed samples and this can be discussed as the deep site has more phosphate ore rocks which contains more highly percentage of P2O5 conjugated with uranium, thorium and potassium isotopes. [10], were reported that phosphate mine in Safaga has relatively high levels of 226Ra The average activity ratio of 226Ra/228Ra in the region of Safaga-Quseir-Marsa Alam city was 2.25 (0.83 - 5.33)
Summary
Studies of natural environmental radiation and radioactivity are of great importance and interest for environmental chemistry as well as many other disciplines. Environmental radiation originates from a number of naturally occurring and human-made sources. Radioactive materials occur naturally everywhere in the environment (e.g., uranium series, thorium series and potassium-40). Phosphate rocks contain relatively high concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive materials from uranium series and thorium series (238U and 232Th). Mining, milling, transportation of phosphate ores, manufacturing of phosphate fertilizers containing uranium are ways in which the workers, public and the environment are exposed to enhance natural radioactivity [4]. Natural environmental radioactivity series mainly from primordial radionuclides, such as the nuclides from both 238U and 232Th series and their decay products as well as 40K occur at trace levels in all ground formations [5]. Exposure of workers and the public to radiation from phosphate rock is unlikely. Oxidative stress is an imbalance for the production of ROS which leads to an increased oxidation of cellular components [9]
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