Radioactivity concentrations and their radiological significance in sediments of the Tema Harbour (Greater Accra, Ghana)
Studies on environmental radioactivity in tropical Africa are scarce. Therefore, a baseline study of natural (238U, 210Pb, 226Ra, 232Th, 228Ra, 228Th, 40K) and anthropogenic (137Cs) radionuclides was carried out on Tema Harbour (Greater Accra, Ghana) surface sediments and on their radiological signi...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2017-01-01
|
Series: | Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687850716300772 |
id |
doaj-fa30f6c944594ddb8ec04770de298452 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-fa30f6c944594ddb8ec04770de2984522020-11-24T20:43:19ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences1687-85072017-01-01101637110.1016/j.jrras.2016.12.002Radioactivity concentrations and their radiological significance in sediments of the Tema Harbour (Greater Accra, Ghana)Benjamin O. Botwe0Antonio Schirone1Ivana Delbono2Mattia Barsanti3Roberta Delfanti4Peter Kelderman5Elvis Nyarko6Piet N.L. Lens7UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, The NetherlandsENEA, Marine Environment Research Centre, PO Box 224, I-19100 La Spezia, ItalyENEA, Marine Environment Research Centre, PO Box 224, I-19100 La Spezia, ItalyENEA, Marine Environment Research Centre, PO Box 224, I-19100 La Spezia, ItalyENEA, Marine Environment Research Centre, PO Box 224, I-19100 La Spezia, ItalyUNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, The NetherlandsDepartment of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, PO Box LG 99, Legon, Accra, GhanaUNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, The NetherlandsStudies on environmental radioactivity in tropical Africa are scarce. Therefore, a baseline study of natural (238U, 210Pb, 226Ra, 232Th, 228Ra, 228Th, 40K) and anthropogenic (137Cs) radionuclides was carried out on Tema Harbour (Greater Accra, Ghana) surface sediments and on their radiological significance. Grab surface sediment samples were collected from 21 stations within the Tema Harbour and their radioactivity concentrations measured by gamma spectrometry. The mean sediment radioactivity concentrations (Bq kg−1 dw) were 34 for 238U, 210 for 210Pb, 14 for 226Ra, 30 for 232Th, 29 for 228Ra, 31 for 228Th, 320 for 40K, and 1.5 for 137Cs. Large 238U/226Ra disequilibria were observed in the harbour sediments and a complex dynamics of several mixed sources of sediments within the Tema Harbour can be inferred from the spatial variations in the radioactivity concentrations. The estimated total absorbed dose rate in air (D), radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex), annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) and annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) indicated no significant radiological risks from the sediment radioactivity concentrations. Application of the Environmental Risk from Ionising Contaminants Assessment and Management tool (ERICA) confirmed that the potential dose rates to biota from the sediment radioactivity concentrations are unlikely to pose appreciable ecological risks. The radioactivity levels are compared with levels reported in sediments from other coastal areas of the world.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687850716300772Dose ratesERICA toolRadioactivityTema HarbourSediments |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Benjamin O. Botwe Antonio Schirone Ivana Delbono Mattia Barsanti Roberta Delfanti Peter Kelderman Elvis Nyarko Piet N.L. Lens |
spellingShingle |
Benjamin O. Botwe Antonio Schirone Ivana Delbono Mattia Barsanti Roberta Delfanti Peter Kelderman Elvis Nyarko Piet N.L. Lens Radioactivity concentrations and their radiological significance in sediments of the Tema Harbour (Greater Accra, Ghana) Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences Dose rates ERICA tool Radioactivity Tema Harbour Sediments |
author_facet |
Benjamin O. Botwe Antonio Schirone Ivana Delbono Mattia Barsanti Roberta Delfanti Peter Kelderman Elvis Nyarko Piet N.L. Lens |
author_sort |
Benjamin O. Botwe |
title |
Radioactivity concentrations and their radiological significance in sediments of the Tema Harbour (Greater Accra, Ghana) |
title_short |
Radioactivity concentrations and their radiological significance in sediments of the Tema Harbour (Greater Accra, Ghana) |
title_full |
Radioactivity concentrations and their radiological significance in sediments of the Tema Harbour (Greater Accra, Ghana) |
title_fullStr |
Radioactivity concentrations and their radiological significance in sediments of the Tema Harbour (Greater Accra, Ghana) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Radioactivity concentrations and their radiological significance in sediments of the Tema Harbour (Greater Accra, Ghana) |
title_sort |
radioactivity concentrations and their radiological significance in sediments of the tema harbour (greater accra, ghana) |
publisher |
Taylor & Francis Group |
series |
Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences |
issn |
1687-8507 |
publishDate |
2017-01-01 |
description |
Studies on environmental radioactivity in tropical Africa are scarce. Therefore, a baseline study of natural (238U, 210Pb, 226Ra, 232Th, 228Ra, 228Th, 40K) and anthropogenic (137Cs) radionuclides was carried out on Tema Harbour (Greater Accra, Ghana) surface sediments and on their radiological significance. Grab surface sediment samples were collected from 21 stations within the Tema Harbour and their radioactivity concentrations measured by gamma spectrometry. The mean sediment radioactivity concentrations (Bq kg−1 dw) were 34 for 238U, 210 for 210Pb, 14 for 226Ra, 30 for 232Th, 29 for 228Ra, 31 for 228Th, 320 for 40K, and 1.5 for 137Cs. Large 238U/226Ra disequilibria were observed in the harbour sediments and a complex dynamics of several mixed sources of sediments within the Tema Harbour can be inferred from the spatial variations in the radioactivity concentrations. The estimated total absorbed dose rate in air (D), radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex), annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) and annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) indicated no significant radiological risks from the sediment radioactivity concentrations. Application of the Environmental Risk from Ionising Contaminants Assessment and Management tool (ERICA) confirmed that the potential dose rates to biota from the sediment radioactivity concentrations are unlikely to pose appreciable ecological risks. The radioactivity levels are compared with levels reported in sediments from other coastal areas of the world. |
topic |
Dose rates ERICA tool Radioactivity Tema Harbour Sediments |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687850716300772 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT benjaminobotwe radioactivityconcentrationsandtheirradiologicalsignificanceinsedimentsofthetemaharbourgreateraccraghana AT antonioschirone radioactivityconcentrationsandtheirradiologicalsignificanceinsedimentsofthetemaharbourgreateraccraghana AT ivanadelbono radioactivityconcentrationsandtheirradiologicalsignificanceinsedimentsofthetemaharbourgreateraccraghana AT mattiabarsanti radioactivityconcentrationsandtheirradiologicalsignificanceinsedimentsofthetemaharbourgreateraccraghana AT robertadelfanti radioactivityconcentrationsandtheirradiologicalsignificanceinsedimentsofthetemaharbourgreateraccraghana AT peterkelderman radioactivityconcentrationsandtheirradiologicalsignificanceinsedimentsofthetemaharbourgreateraccraghana AT elvisnyarko radioactivityconcentrationsandtheirradiologicalsignificanceinsedimentsofthetemaharbourgreateraccraghana AT pietnllens radioactivityconcentrationsandtheirradiologicalsignificanceinsedimentsofthetemaharbourgreateraccraghana |
_version_ |
1716820237264879616 |