Abstract
Mineral mining and milling can be a source of national economic and technological development. However, mining of minerals has been confirmed to disturb the natural distribution of radioisotopes in the soil, air and water bodies in the biota. In an attempt to evaluate the radiological burden resulting from tin mining activities at Rayfield-Du area of Jos, the background gamma-radiation level in the mine was measured via a well calibratedhand-held dosimeter placed at 1 m above ground level. The mean absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose rate and excess lifetime cancer risk for the mine was 0.83 μSvh-1; 1.44 mSv-1 and 0.005 respectively. Generally, dose rates were higher in the mine pits and processing areas as compared to administrative areas of the mine. The mean measured dose rate and calculated dose parameters for the mine were all high when compared to the regulatory limit for public exposure. The potential of developing radiation-induced health defects as a result of high radiation absorbed dose rate by the miners and dwellers around the mine is highly probable. 
 Keywords: Gamma-radiation; mine; absorbed dose rate; radiation exposure.
Highlights
2014; Jwanbot et al, 2012; Usikalu et al, 2011)
The calibration of the detector was verified at the National Institute of Radiation Protection and Research situated in the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
The values of the measured absorbed dose rate ( ) in air at 1 m above ground level are presented in Table 1 and 2 for both the twenty (20) administrative areas (S) and the forty-two (42) mining and processing areas (TM) respectively
Summary
2014; Jwanbot et al, 2012; Usikalu et al, 2011) Most of these studies do not give the coordinate and exact location parameters of the studied areas. This has made it very difficult for government, regulatory agencies and researchers to independently verify these findings and perhaps initiate a process of reclamation, rehabilitation and imposing regulations on the mine and its environment. This research was aimed to use measured in-situ gammaradiation dose rate and associated radiological risk parameters to delineate areas of high radiation dose in the mining site in Du district area of Jos South, Plateau state, Nigeria.
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