Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2024-75-3897
Trace element and radiological characterisation of ash and soil at a legacy site in the former Raša coal-mining area
Tomislav Bituh
; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Division of Radiation Protection, Zagreb, Croatia
Josip Peco
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Science, Department of Geology, Division of Mineralogy and Petrology, Zagreb, Croatia
Iva Božičević Mihalić
orcid.org/0000-0002-0221-4024
; Ruđer Bošković Institute, Laboratory for Ion Beam Interactions, Zagreb, Croatia
Sabrina Gouasmia
; Ruđer Bošković Institute, Laboratory for Ion Beam Interactions, Zagreb, Croatia
Marija Grlić
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Zagreb, Croatia
Branko Petrinec
; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Division of Radiation Protection, Zagreb, Croatia, 5 Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Osijek, Croatia
Sažetak
Coal mined in the shut-down Raša mine in Istria, Croatia had a high organic sulphur content. What has remained of its local combustion is a coal and ash waste (legacy site) whose trace element and radionuclide composition in soil has enduring consequences for the environment. The aim of this study was to follow up on previous research and investigate the potential impact on surrounding soil and local residents by characterising the site’s ash and soil samples collected in two field campaigns. Trace elements were analysed using particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis. Radionuclides, namely 232Th, 238U, 226Ra, 210Pb, and 40K, were analysed with high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. PIXE analysis confirms previous findings, whereas radionuclide analysis shows higher activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, and 210Pb in ash samples than the worldwide average, and the absorbed dose rates for local residents are up to four times higher than background levels. Our findings confirm the need of investigating coal industry legacy sites and the importance of remediation of such sites.
Ključne riječi
ash; hazardous trace elements; NORM; PIXE; radionuclides; soil
Hrčak ID:
324301
URI
Datum izdavanja:
19.12.2024.
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