Radiological Environmental Risk Associated with Different Water Management Systems in Amang Processing in Malaysia

Abstract

The processing of amang (tin-tailing) for its valuable minerals have shown that it technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials, and has a potential of impacting the environment Large volume of water is used to extract these valuable minerals from amang Three types of water management systems are used by amang plants, ie Open Water System (OWS), Close Water System Man-made (CWS mm) and Close Water System Natural (CWSn) A study was carried out to determine the radiological environmental risk associated with these different water management systems in amang processing in Malaysia The parameters studied were pH of water, Water Quality Indices, and uranium ad thorium concentrations in water and sediments Three different sampling locations were selected for each water management system, ie the source, the receiver and related reference water bodies Results obtained showed that amang reduces the pH and contaminates the water However, OWS appears have the least radiological environmental impact On the contrary both CWS (man-made and natural) pose a potential environmental risk if great care are not given to the treatment of accumulated sediment and contaminated water before discharge into the environment