Natural radioactivity & associated radiological health hazards in soil around Van Eck Power plant, Windhoek, Namibia

Abstract

Primordial radionuclides such as uranium (U-238), thorium (Th-232), and potassium (K-40) and their progenies contained in coal can be a source of concern to the environment in a thermal coal-powered plant. In this study, the average activity concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 in the soil around the Van Eck coal-fired power plant in Namibia were determined by the means of the gamma-ray spectrometry technique. The obtained average activity concentrations in the studied soil samples range from 7.74 to 20.04, 8.59 to 31.74, and 108.8 to 484.9 Bq/kg with an average of 13.33, 17.73, and 269.6 Bq/kg for Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40, respectively, which were slightly higher than the Windhoek background values. The estimated radiological health hazards were within the prescribed international reference values. The dose rates to which the residents within the 15 km radius are subjected due to combustion activities at the power plant were within the public exposure limits.