article · Minerals
An evaluation of soil and sediment samples from artisanal and small-scale gold mining operations along the Ulindi River in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo reveals high levels of natural radioactivity. Using gamma-ray spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, measurements showed that concentrations of uranium-238, radium-226, and thorium-232 were between 71 and 89 times higher than worldwide averages reported in soils. The average ambient effective radiation dose rate was measured at 8.4 mSv per year, reaching up to 40 mSv per year, qualifying the site as a natural high background radiation area. Assessments of radiological risk indicators, including outdoor gamma absorbed dose rates and excess lifetime cancer risks, showed levels significantly above global averages. These findings point to serious radiation risks for artisanal miners and nearby residents handling geological materials, highlighting the need for dedicated radiation safety policies.
Artisanal mining often takes place without formal safety oversight. Demonstrating that gold deposits along the Ulindi River contain radioactive elements at levels dozens of times higher than global benchmarks reveals an unseen environmental hazard. This information is critical for public health authorities and environmental monitors seeking to address long-term cancer risks and design safety protections for vulnerable mining communities.
The findings could inform radiation monitoring protocols, occupational safety equipment, and hazard mitigation programmes designed for mining operators, regulatory bodies, and non-governmental organisations working in artisanal mining sectors. This research represents an early-stage environmental assessment rather than a commercial product, meaning any associated services or intervention frameworks remain at a preliminary, applied research level.
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The radioactivity associated with artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities (ASM) carried out along the Ulindi River, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, was evaluated by gamma-ray spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry of soil and sediment samples. The results revealed that activity concentrations of 238U (up to 3127 ± 98 Bq kg−1), 226Ra (up to 2710 ± 89 Bq kg−1) and 232Th (up to 2142 ± 162 Bq kg−1) were 71- to 89-fold higher than the worldwide average concentrations reported by UNSCEAR in soils. Primordial radionuclides are, thus, present in high concentrations in deposits of gold in that region and the average ambient effective radiation dose rate was determined at 8.4 mSv y−1 (range 0.5 to 40 mSv y−1). This area may be classified as a natural high background radiation area (HBRA). The radiation risk for artisanal miners and population members manipulating those geological materials were assessed through radiological parameters. such as the radium equivalent activity index (RaEq), outdoor gamma absorbed dose rate (ODRA), annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR). The mean values of these parameters were significantly elevated in comparison to the world average levels and indicated the existence of significant radiation risks for gold miners and members of the local population. A radiation safety policy seems needed to protect workers and the local population in this region.
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DOI: 10.3390/min12101278
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