Geochemistry of Natural Radionuclides Associated with Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in a Coal Mining Area in Southern Brazil
Coal is an important non-renewable energy source of
and can be associated with radioactive elements. In Figueira city,
Paraná state, Brazil, it was recorded high uranium activity near the
coal mine that supplies a local thermoelectric power plant. In this
context, the radon activity (Rn-222, produced by the Ra-226 decay in
the U-238 natural series) was evaluated in groundwater, river water
and effluents produced from the acid mine drainage in the coal reject
dumps. The samples were collected in August 2013 and in February
2014 and analyzed at LABIDRO (Laboratory of Isotope and
Hydrochemistry), UNESP, Rio Claro city, Brazil, using an alpha
spectrometer (AlphaGuard) adjusted to evaluate the mean radon
activity concentration in five cycles of 10 minutes. No radon activity
concentration above 100 Bq.L-1, which was a previous critic value
established by the World Health Organization. The average radon
activity concentration in groundwater was higher than in surface
water and in effluent samples, possibly due to the accumulation of
uranium and radium in the aquifer layers that favors the radon
trapping. The lower value in the river waters can indicate dilution and
the intermediate value in the effluents may indicate radon absorption
in the coal particles of the reject dumps. The results also indicate that
the radon activities in the effluents increase with the sample
acidification, possibly due to the higher radium leaching and the
subsequent radon transport to the drainage flow. The water samples
of Laranjinha River and Ribeirão das Pedras stream, which,
respectively, supply Figueira city and receive the mining effluent,
exhibited higher pH values upstream the mine, reflecting the acid
mine drainage discharge. The radionuclides transport indicates the
importance of monitoring their activity concentration in natural
waters due to the risks that the radioactivity can represent to human
health.
[1] F. A. Balogun, C. E. Mokobiab, M. K Fasasia and F. O. Ogundarec,
“Natural radioactivity associated with bituminous coal mining in
Nigeria”, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, vol.
505, pp. 444–448, 2003.
[2] D. A. Fungaro and J. C. Izidoro, “Remediação da drenagem ácida de
mina usando zeólitas sintetizadas a partir de cinzas leves de carvão”,
Quim. Nova, vol. 29, no. 4, p. 735-740, 2006.
[3] United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), “Office of
Solid Waste: Human health and environmental damages from mining
and mineral processing wastes”, USEPA: Washington, 1995.
[4] H. M. Fernandes, M. A. Pires do Rio, L. H. S. Veiga and E. C. S.
Amaral, “Environmental radiological problems associated to nonuranium
mining and milling industries”, in 4° Encontro Brasileiro sobre
Aplicações Nucleares. Poços de Caldas, 1997.
[5] G. H. Berghorn and G. R. Hunzeker, “Passive Treatment Alternatives
for Remediating Abandoned Mine Drainage”, Remediation Journal, vol.
11, no. 3, pp. 111–127, 2001.
[6] T. Arnold, N. Baumann, E. Krawczyk-Bärsch, S. Brockmann, U.
Zimmermann, U. Jenk and S. Weib, “Identification of the uranium
speciation in an underground acid mine drainage environment”,
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, vol. 75, pp. 2200–2212, 2011.
[7] A. Al-Hashimi, G. J. Evans and B. Cox, “Aspects of the permanent
storage of uranium tailings”, Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, vol. 88, pp.
83-92, 1996.
[8] M. Flues, I. M. C. Camargo, P. S.C. Silva and B. P. Mazzilli,
“Radioactivity of coal and ashes from Figueira coal power plant in
Brazil”, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, vol. 270,
no.3, pp. 597–602, 2006.
[9] United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation
(UNSCEAR), “Sources, Effects and Risks of Ionizing Radiation”, United
Nation: New York, 1988.
[10] V. P. Campaner, “Dispersão geoquímica elementar e isotópica na
atmosfera e no solo em área com atividade minerária e termoelétrica a
carvão”, Universidade Estadual de Campinas: Campinas, 2013.
[11] International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), “The environmental
behavior of radium”, IAEA: Vienna, 1990. [12] United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), “Radon in
drinking water health risk reduction and cost analysis”, USEPA:
Washington, 1999.
[13] World Health Organization (WHO), “Guidelines for drinking water
quality”, 4th ed., WHO Press: Geneva, 2011.
[14] World Health Organization (WHO), “Guidelines for drinking water
quality”, 3rd ed., WHO Press: Geneva, 2006.
[15] M. S. Baxter, “Environmental radioactivity: a perspective on industrial
contributions”. IAEA Bulletin, v. 35, n. 2, p. 33–38, 1993.
[16] L. H. S. Veiga, V. Melo, S. Koifman and E. C. S. Amaral, “High radon
exposure in a Brazilian underground coal mine”, J. Radiol. Prot., vol.
24, pp. 295–305, 2004.
[17] M. A. Iritani and S. Ezaki, “As águas subterrâneas do Estado de São
Paulo”, Secretaria do Estado de Meio Ambiente: São Paulo, 2008.
[18] E. J. Milani, “Evolução tectono-estratigráfica da Bacia do Paraná e seu
relacionamento com a geodinâmica fanerozóica do Gonduana Sul-
Ocidental”, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul: Porto Alegre,
1997.
[19] E. J. Milani, J. H. G. Melo, P. A. Souza, L. A. Fernandes and A. B
Franca, “Bacia do Paraná”, Boletim Geociências da Petrobrás, vol. 15,
no. 2, pp. 265-287, 2007.
[20] M. S. S. Shuqair, “Estudo da contaminação do solo e água subterrânea
por elementos tóxicos originados dos rejeitos das minas de carvão de
Figueira no Estado do Paraná”, Uiversidade de São Paulo, IPEN: São
Paulo, 2002.
[21] L. A. Bizzi, C. Schobbenhaus, R. M. Vidotti and J. H. Gonçalves,
“Geologia, Tectônica e Recursos Minerais do Brasil”, CPRM: Brasília,
2003.
[22] A. A. Zacharias and M. L. Assine, “Modelo de preenchimento de vales
incisos por associações de fáceis estuarinas, Formação Rio Bonito no
Norte do Estado do Paraná”, Revista Brasileira de Geociências, vol. 35,
no. 4, pp. 573-583, 2005.
[23] Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (ANEEL), “A Situação da
Produção de Carvão Mineral no Estado do Paraná em Relação a Nota
Técnica 034/2011”. ANEEL, Curitiba, 2011.
[24] HACH, “Water Analysis Handbook”, Ed. Hach Company: Colorado,
1992.
[25] Genitron, “Alpha Guard PQ2000/MC50 - Multiparameter Radon
Monitor”, Genitron Instruments: Frankfurt, 2000.
[1] F. A. Balogun, C. E. Mokobiab, M. K Fasasia and F. O. Ogundarec,
“Natural radioactivity associated with bituminous coal mining in
Nigeria”, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, vol.
505, pp. 444–448, 2003.
[2] D. A. Fungaro and J. C. Izidoro, “Remediação da drenagem ácida de
mina usando zeólitas sintetizadas a partir de cinzas leves de carvão”,
Quim. Nova, vol. 29, no. 4, p. 735-740, 2006.
[3] United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), “Office of
Solid Waste: Human health and environmental damages from mining
and mineral processing wastes”, USEPA: Washington, 1995.
[4] H. M. Fernandes, M. A. Pires do Rio, L. H. S. Veiga and E. C. S.
Amaral, “Environmental radiological problems associated to nonuranium
mining and milling industries”, in 4° Encontro Brasileiro sobre
Aplicações Nucleares. Poços de Caldas, 1997.
[5] G. H. Berghorn and G. R. Hunzeker, “Passive Treatment Alternatives
for Remediating Abandoned Mine Drainage”, Remediation Journal, vol.
11, no. 3, pp. 111–127, 2001.
[6] T. Arnold, N. Baumann, E. Krawczyk-Bärsch, S. Brockmann, U.
Zimmermann, U. Jenk and S. Weib, “Identification of the uranium
speciation in an underground acid mine drainage environment”,
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, vol. 75, pp. 2200–2212, 2011.
[7] A. Al-Hashimi, G. J. Evans and B. Cox, “Aspects of the permanent
storage of uranium tailings”, Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, vol. 88, pp.
83-92, 1996.
[8] M. Flues, I. M. C. Camargo, P. S.C. Silva and B. P. Mazzilli,
“Radioactivity of coal and ashes from Figueira coal power plant in
Brazil”, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, vol. 270,
no.3, pp. 597–602, 2006.
[9] United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation
(UNSCEAR), “Sources, Effects and Risks of Ionizing Radiation”, United
Nation: New York, 1988.
[10] V. P. Campaner, “Dispersão geoquímica elementar e isotópica na
atmosfera e no solo em área com atividade minerária e termoelétrica a
carvão”, Universidade Estadual de Campinas: Campinas, 2013.
[11] International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), “The environmental
behavior of radium”, IAEA: Vienna, 1990. [12] United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), “Radon in
drinking water health risk reduction and cost analysis”, USEPA:
Washington, 1999.
[13] World Health Organization (WHO), “Guidelines for drinking water
quality”, 4th ed., WHO Press: Geneva, 2011.
[14] World Health Organization (WHO), “Guidelines for drinking water
quality”, 3rd ed., WHO Press: Geneva, 2006.
[15] M. S. Baxter, “Environmental radioactivity: a perspective on industrial
contributions”. IAEA Bulletin, v. 35, n. 2, p. 33–38, 1993.
[16] L. H. S. Veiga, V. Melo, S. Koifman and E. C. S. Amaral, “High radon
exposure in a Brazilian underground coal mine”, J. Radiol. Prot., vol.
24, pp. 295–305, 2004.
[17] M. A. Iritani and S. Ezaki, “As águas subterrâneas do Estado de São
Paulo”, Secretaria do Estado de Meio Ambiente: São Paulo, 2008.
[18] E. J. Milani, “Evolução tectono-estratigráfica da Bacia do Paraná e seu
relacionamento com a geodinâmica fanerozóica do Gonduana Sul-
Ocidental”, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul: Porto Alegre,
1997.
[19] E. J. Milani, J. H. G. Melo, P. A. Souza, L. A. Fernandes and A. B
Franca, “Bacia do Paraná”, Boletim Geociências da Petrobrás, vol. 15,
no. 2, pp. 265-287, 2007.
[20] M. S. S. Shuqair, “Estudo da contaminação do solo e água subterrânea
por elementos tóxicos originados dos rejeitos das minas de carvão de
Figueira no Estado do Paraná”, Uiversidade de São Paulo, IPEN: São
Paulo, 2002.
[21] L. A. Bizzi, C. Schobbenhaus, R. M. Vidotti and J. H. Gonçalves,
“Geologia, Tectônica e Recursos Minerais do Brasil”, CPRM: Brasília,
2003.
[22] A. A. Zacharias and M. L. Assine, “Modelo de preenchimento de vales
incisos por associações de fáceis estuarinas, Formação Rio Bonito no
Norte do Estado do Paraná”, Revista Brasileira de Geociências, vol. 35,
no. 4, pp. 573-583, 2005.
[23] Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (ANEEL), “A Situação da
Produção de Carvão Mineral no Estado do Paraná em Relação a Nota
Técnica 034/2011”. ANEEL, Curitiba, 2011.
[24] HACH, “Water Analysis Handbook”, Ed. Hach Company: Colorado,
1992.
[25] Genitron, “Alpha Guard PQ2000/MC50 - Multiparameter Radon
Monitor”, Genitron Instruments: Frankfurt, 2000.
@article{"International Journal of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences:69858", author = "Juliana A. Galhardi and Daniel M. Bonotto", title = "Geochemistry of Natural Radionuclides Associated with Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in a Coal Mining Area in Southern Brazil", abstract = "Coal is an important non-renewable energy source of
and can be associated with radioactive elements. In Figueira city,
Paraná state, Brazil, it was recorded high uranium activity near the
coal mine that supplies a local thermoelectric power plant. In this
context, the radon activity (Rn-222, produced by the Ra-226 decay in
the U-238 natural series) was evaluated in groundwater, river water
and effluents produced from the acid mine drainage in the coal reject
dumps. The samples were collected in August 2013 and in February
2014 and analyzed at LABIDRO (Laboratory of Isotope and
Hydrochemistry), UNESP, Rio Claro city, Brazil, using an alpha
spectrometer (AlphaGuard) adjusted to evaluate the mean radon
activity concentration in five cycles of 10 minutes. No radon activity
concentration above 100 Bq.L-1, which was a previous critic value
established by the World Health Organization. The average radon
activity concentration in groundwater was higher than in surface
water and in effluent samples, possibly due to the accumulation of
uranium and radium in the aquifer layers that favors the radon
trapping. The lower value in the river waters can indicate dilution and
the intermediate value in the effluents may indicate radon absorption
in the coal particles of the reject dumps. The results also indicate that
the radon activities in the effluents increase with the sample
acidification, possibly due to the higher radium leaching and the
subsequent radon transport to the drainage flow. The water samples
of Laranjinha River and Ribeirão das Pedras stream, which,
respectively, supply Figueira city and receive the mining effluent,
exhibited higher pH values upstream the mine, reflecting the acid
mine drainage discharge. The radionuclides transport indicates the
importance of monitoring their activity concentration in natural
waters due to the risks that the radioactivity can represent to human
health.", keywords = "Radon, radium, acid mine drainage, coal", volume = "9", number = "5", pages = "513-8", }