Dose Assessment in Mining Communities in South Africa Using Ecolego Simulation Software

TL;DR

This study uses simulation software to assess radiation doses from radionuclides in mining communities in South Africa, comparing adult and infant exposure over 100 years.

Contribution

The study introduces a long-term simulation approach for radionuclide dose assessment in mining communities using Ecolego software.

Findings

Adults received higher inhalation doses than infants in all study areas.

Inhalation doses for infants ranged from 1.86 × 10−2 µSv to 43.45 µSv, while adults ranged from 3.58 × 10−2 µSv to 271.56 µSv.

Total annual doses for adults varied from 1811 µSv/y to 2015 µSv/y, while infants received 744.51 µSv/y to 745 µSv/y.

Abstract

Ecolego simulation was used to predict long-term behavior of radionuclide concentration in air and soil and to estimate health impacts. The radionuclides considered in this model are 238U, 232Th, 226Ra, 210Pb, 210Po, 234Th, 230Th, and 234U. Dose assessments were conducted in soil and the pathway to humans through inhalation for an adult and an infant (1–2 years). Model simulations were performed over a period of 100 years, the approximate human lifetime. The doses through inhalation to adults were higher than the doses to infants in all study areas A to C. The inhalation doses for an infant in the three study areas A, B, and C range from 1.86 × 10−2 µSv to 43.45 µSv, whereas those for an adult vary from 3.58 × 10−2 µSv to 271.56 µSv. The total dose from inhalation of the eight radionuclides for an adult varies from 1811 µSv/y in area C to 2015 µSv/y in areas A and B, yet that for an infant was 744.51 µSv/y in area C and 745 µSv/y in areas A and B. These results will assist in developing more effective strategies for monitoring and mitigating exposure risks and pave the way for enhanced regulatory policies aimed at safeguarding public health and the environment.

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