Speaker
Description
Mining activities on the ground would usually be accompanied by naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs), as well as technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (TENORMs), both from the radioactive minerals and minerals that generate the radioactive elements. Radioactive mineral mining activities like uranium mining, phosphate, and others directly generate the NORMs as well as TENORMs while other mining activities like oil and gas, gold mining and others generate a small number of NORMs.Due to different exposure pathways that exist, the radiation from NORMs and TENORMs from mining which generates radionuclides can pose severe health risks to occupational workers, environments, and the general public if there is no regulatory control.
As different mining activities increases in Tanzania so are the risks associated with these NORMs and TENORMs.Currently, the existing regulations on potential public, environmental and occupational safety issues in the mining industry are very general; however specific regulations on radioactive minerals like uranium, thorium, and phosphate exist.
Therefore this study will review the regulatory control of the NORMS and TENORMs from other mining industries in other countries and establish the release limit by comparing their release limit and IAEA guidance and ICRP recommendations for safety in mining and mineral processing industry in Tanzania so as to protect the environment, workers and the general public from harmful radiation effects.
