Assessment of radiological levels in soils from Bagega artisanal gold mining exercises at Bagega Zamfara State, Nigeria

The research consists of assessments of radiological levels from Bagega artisanal gold mining exercises in Zamfara State of Nigeria. Results show mean values of activities in the order 40K >226Ra > 232 Th gives 370.79±7.98 Bq kg - 1, 18.3 ± 1.77 Bq kg -1, 16.86 ± 0.94 Bq kg -1. The mean value of outdoor gamma dose rate is 27.25 nGy h -1 which is well below the global average values. The mean annual effective dose rate is 33.44 μSv y -1 (= 0.033mSv y-1), which is correspondingly much lower compare to 0.07 mSv y -1 UNSCEAR base line. This value are low radiological speaking and should not cause health concerns, however the unprofessional practices of the miners which included non-usage of gas mask puts them at risk of exposure to respiratory crystalline silica as well as exposure to radon gas inhalation.