Evaluating radiological impacts of tin mining in the Jos Plateau, Nigeria
innovative methodology and health risk assessments
Abstract
Mining can significantly affect the surrounding environment. This study analyzed the radiological impact of tin mining in the Jos Plateau, Nigeria. Soil, tin tailing and agricultural products were collected and analyzed by gamma spectrometry establishing a simple resource-saving method for determining efficiencies, the Top-Down method. The activities increased from soil to tin tailing material (U-238: soil: 62—178 Bq/kg, tailing: 111—3000 Bq/kg; Th-232: soil: 51—186 Bq/kg, tailing: 62—6400 Bq/kg). The agricultural products show elevated activity concentrations, exceeding reference values. Resulting external exposure rates and increased food contamination cause elevated doses and health risks for the local population.
Details
- Organisation(s)
-
Centre for Radiation Protection and Radioecology
- External Organisation(s)
-
University of Ibadan
- Type
- Article
- Journal
- Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
- Volume
- 335
- Pages
- 2239-2250
- No. of pages
- 12
- ISSN
- 0236-5731
- Publication date
- 03.2026
- Publication status
- Published
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Analytical Chemistry, Nuclear Energy and Engineering, Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging, Pollution, Spectroscopy, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
- Electronic version(s)
-
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-025-10706-x (Access:
Open
)
