ASSESSMENT OF RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS IN THE RAMUNICKEL AND YANDERA MINING SITES OF PAPUA NEW GUINEARELATED TO RADIATION POLLUTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTKOLKOMA D., PEREIRA F. B., JOJO P. J. AND MICHAEL K.Abstract Radioactive elements present in the soil emit radiation of different types that poses a threat for human life. Mining waste and residues create environmental pollution and these have to beproperly monitored and managed. Measurement of ambient radiation doses and determination of radio nuclides in the mining waste and soil were performed in six riverside locations of Ramu Nickel and Yandera mining sites in Usino Bundi district of Madang and in a nearby place, Lae, in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. The average dose rate in air in the mining sites and in Lae have been calculated and it was observed that the annual dose rate in the mining site varies from0.9 mSv/y to 1.1 mSv/y whereas in Lae, it is only 0.78 mSv/y. The outdoor dose rate was found to vary from 126.8 mGy/y to 155.4 mGy/y and the indoor dose rate was found to vary from 507.2 mGy/y to 621.7 mGy/y in the mining sites. The soil samples were analyzed using NaI(Tl) gamma rayspectrometer. Radioactive elements Ca45, I129,Hg203, Cr51, Au198, Fe59, Co60, Ti201, Cd109, Bi214 and Sc47were observed to be slightly higher in the mining area compared to that observed in nearby sites. Though radioactivity level in the mining sites is slightly higher, it is well below the global standards. |