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<p>Mining activities generate large volumes of waste, including tailings rich in natural radionuclides and potentially toxic elements. These wastes accumulate on-site and are washed into mining ponds, contaminating water used by miners and nearby communities, posing serious health risks. Water samples from gold and kaolin mining sites in the Ife-Ilesha schist belt were analyzed for radionuclides (<sup>40</sup>K, <sup>238</sup>U, <sup>232</sup>Th), metals, and semi-metals using gamma and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Using a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method, a probabilistic health risk assessment was performed to estimate the ingestion dose and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) for exposed miners. MCS-based risk assessment revealed elevated cancer and non-cancer risks. Ingestion doses from naturally occurring radioactive materials range from a best-case scenario (0.56&#xa0;mSv/y) to a worst-case scenario (0.92&#xa0;mSv/y), which both exceed the World Health Organization recommended limit of 0.1&#xa0;mSv/y for drinking water. To prevent long-term health effects, miners and local communities should avoid consuming these waters.</p>

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Radionuclides, Metals, and Semi-metals in Water of Artisanal Mining Sites: A Monte Carlo Simulation Approach to Health Risk Assessment

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月4日

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  • Matthew Omoniyi Isinkaye,
  • Paulinah Oyindamola Fasanmi,
  • Itunu Comfort Okeyode,
  • Muyiwa Michael Orosun,
  • Taofik Olubunmi Ewumi

摘要

Mining activities generate large volumes of waste, including tailings rich in natural radionuclides and potentially toxic elements. These wastes accumulate on-site and are washed into mining ponds, contaminating water used by miners and nearby communities, posing serious health risks. Water samples from gold and kaolin mining sites in the Ife-Ilesha schist belt were analyzed for radionuclides (40K, 238U, 232Th), metals, and semi-metals using gamma and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Using a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method, a probabilistic health risk assessment was performed to estimate the ingestion dose and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) for exposed miners. MCS-based risk assessment revealed elevated cancer and non-cancer risks. Ingestion doses from naturally occurring radioactive materials range from a best-case scenario (0.56 mSv/y) to a worst-case scenario (0.92 mSv/y), which both exceed the World Health Organization recommended limit of 0.1 mSv/y for drinking water. To prevent long-term health effects, miners and local communities should avoid consuming these waters.