Evaluating radiological impacts of tin mining in the Jos Plateau, Nigeria: innovative methodology and health risk assessments
Abstract
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.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
Heavy metals in environment
Radiation Shielding Materials Analysis
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
- Publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC
- Volume
- 335
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 2239–2250
- Publication date
- 20 January 2026
- Language
- EN