Assessing exposure Hazards and metal analysis resulting from bauxite samples collected from a Saudi Arabian mine

Abstract

Since bauxite is a rock consisting of aluminum oxide, it is significant to measure natural radionuclide concentrations for occupational health purposes. The bauxite mine is located in the city of Az Zabirah in the Qassim region in Saudi Arabia. The radionuclide concentrations of226Ra,232Th, and40K in bauxite samples were measured using a γ-ray spectrometer NaI (Tl). The average and range values of226Ra,232Th, and40K radioactivity concentrations were 83.7±0.3 (164.2-35.2), 107.3±1.3 (199.9-48.5), and 192.0±1.1 (487.1-24.6), Bq/kg respectively. These results were compared with published global limits of226Ra,232Th, and40K by (UNSCEAR, 2000; ICRP-60). The radiation hazard parameters were also calculated and compared with the recommended levels. There are no studies for the natural radioactivity in the bauxite mine in Az Zabirah, so these results are a start to establishing a database in this location. Furthermore, x-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used to determine the concentrations of elements and their oxides for the bauxite samples.