Radioactivity Assessment of Coal from Barapukuria Coal Mine, Bangladesh: Radiological assessment of coal from Bangladesh - Tapa blanda

Natural radioactivity due to the presence of 238U, 232Th and 40K were determined in 24 coal samples from the Barapukuria coalmine of Dinajpur, Bangladesh from both surface and underground. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were measured in the collected coal samples using a gamma ray spectrometry with HPGe detector. The activity concentration of 232Th, 226Ra and 40K ranged from 1.05±0.02 to 7.17±0.17 Bq.kg-1, 0.91±0.03 to 6.93±0.22 Bq.kg-1, 14.29±0.49 to 133.22±1.24 Bq.kg-1 in the coal samples respectively. The average values obtained for all activity concentrations in different coal samples were lower than the corresponding global values reported in UNSCEAR publications. For radiological hazard assessment radium equivalent activity (Raeq) values, external hazard index, representative level index (lyr) values, absorbed dose rate and annual effective dose rates were calculated. The maximum dose distribution in different organs of the body part (Bladder, Brain, Breast, Stomach, Skin, Thyroid, Bone Surface, Kidneys, Liver, Lungs) was calculated according to ICRP 68 for a member of the public (adult) if they inhaled of these natural radionuclides by using Rad Tool Box.

Ms. Jussi Dayna Biswas had graduated from the Department of Environmental Science, Jahangirnagar University Bangladesh in 2009, is working as a lecturer in the Department of Environmental Science at Stamford University Bangladesh. She is the author of some published papers emphasizing on pollution, radioactivity, climate change and health.