Radiometric and environmental impacts of mill tailings at experimental plant processing unit, Allouga, Egypt

Abstract

Uranium mining and ore processing are known to be harmful to the environment and human health if the waste generated is not managed properly. The aim of the present study is to determine the radiological indices in the mill tailings and review the possible attempts to utilize and minimize its hazardous effect. The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides, 238U, 232Th, 226Ra, and 40K have been measured by gamma spectrometry using HP-Ge detector. The average activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, 226Ra, and 40K in the tailings wastes were 2071.8, 59.92, 6921.262, and 445. 57 Bq/kg respectively which are higher than the international average limit. The ranges of hazard indices such as Radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex), internal hazard index (Hin), γ-radiation hazard index Iγ, Dose rate (nGy/h) and annual effective dose equivalent (AED), were estimated. Uraniumm isotopic ratios in the ore –material and mill tailing samples indicate migration out of radionuclides to the surrounding environment causing contamination and many dangerous diseases. Fairly, all investigated tailing waste samples do not satisfy the universal standards, the studied wastes relatively still have high uranium contents and need reprocessing.