Assessing radioactivity in soil in the vicinity of steel production industries: a pioneering investigation in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT

The steel production process results in the emission of naturally occurring radioactive and toxic heavy metals, which are inherent in the raw materials employed as the initial components. To assess the public exposure through atmospheric dispersions of such radiotoxic metals originating from the production plants and the disposal of associated wastes in nearby landfills, a pioneering study was conducted to assess the radioactivity in forty-four soil samples collected from the environs of sixteen different steel mills in the megacity of Dhaka, Bangladesh, using high-purity germanium (HPGe) γ-ray spectrometry. The results indicated activity ranges of 6 ± 1 to 37 ± 3 Bq/kg, 6 ± 1 to 45 ± 4 Bq/kg, and 101 ± 9 to 470 ± 45 Bq/kg for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K, respectively, in the soil samples. Radiological hazard parameters were assessed, and none surpassed the recommended limits set by various international organisations. These results underscore that soil samples obtained from the vicinity of the steel mills do not present an immediate and significant risk to the local community in terms of radiation hazards. Nevertheless, given the observed physical alterations in the soil samples, likely resulting from chemical reactions with pollutants released from the steel mills, it is advisable to refrain from using the examined soil samples for agricultural or construction purposes. This study aims to establish a foundational dataset, serving as a crucial reference for the upcoming commissioning of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in the fiscal year 2024–25. This study advocates for the adoption of a systematic and regular monitoring programme to assess radiation levels in the vicinity of steel production industries across the country.

KEYWORDS:

• Radioactivity
• HPGe
• Steel Mills
• Radiological Hazard

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Availability of data and materials

All data and materials from which the study results have been derived are available and can be provided upon request.

Author contributions

Sample collection and sample preparation was performed by [Z. Hossain]. Data counting and data analysis was performed by [M.M. Mahfuz Siraz]. The first draft of the manuscript was written by [M.M. Mahfuz Siraz], [Jubair Al Mahmud], [Mohammad Shafiqul Alam], and [Dr. Bazlar Rashid]. [Selina Yeasmin] supervised the research. [Dr. Mayeen Uddin Khandaker] and [Hamid Osman, Elrashed AbdElrahim] checked the overall manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript.

Consent to participate

No humans or experimental animals were subjects in this research.

Consent to publish

All authors have consented to publish the results of the research.

Ethical approval

We declare that the manuscript complies with all the ethical standards that need to be met and follows all the rules of good scientific practice.

Additional information

Funding

The researchers would like to acknowledge the deanship of scientific research, Taif University for funding this work.