Exposure Assessment and Health Effects Due to Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation

Contents

Preface....................................................................................................................... ix
Author Bio ................................................................................................................. xi

Chapter 1 Ionizing radiation exposure from various sources and activities in Africa: an overview .......................................................................... 1
1.1 Background of the chapter ......................................................... 1
1.2 Known sources of radiation exposure in Africa ........................ 2
1.2.1 Radon from mining ...................................................... 2
1.2.2 Uranium from mining and power plants ...................... 2
1.2.3 X-rays from healthcare sectors ..................................... 2
1.2.4 Ultraviolet (UV) exposure from the sun ...................... 3
1.3 Ionizing radiation occupational exposures from mining, health, UV, and power generation activities in Africa .............. 3
1.3.1 Occupational radon exposure ....................................... 4
1.3.2 Occupational uranium exposure in mining and power plants .............................................. 4
1.3.3 Occupation UV exposure ............................................. 5
1.3.4 Occupational exposure to X-rays ................................. 5
1.4 Methodologies to assess occupational ionizing radiation exposure ..................................................................... 6
1.4.1 Radon personal exposure assessments ......................... 6
1.4.2 Uranium personal exposure assessments ..................... 7
1.4.3 UV personal exposure assessments .............................. 7
1.4.4 X-ray personal exposure assessments .......................... 8
1.5 Conclusion ................................................................................. 9
References ...........................................................................................10

Chapter 2 Ionizing radiation exposure from mine tailings ..................................14
2.1 Background of the chapter ........................................................14
2.2 Overview of gold mine tailings in Africa ................................15
2.3 Proximity of gold mine tailings to residential structures .........16
2.4 Overview of literature on radon and uranium residential exposure proximal to gold mine tailings ..................................18
2.4.1 Radon ..........................................................................18
2.4.2 Uranium ...................................................................... 24
2.5 Findings from African studies ................................................. 24
2.6 Future studies .......................................................................... 29
2.7 Conclusion ............................................................................... 30
References .......................................................................................... 30

Chapter 3 Non-ionizing radiation exposure assessments for communication and power sources .............................................................................. 36
3.1 Background of the chapter ....................................................... 36
3.2 Overview of non-ionizing radiation exposure assessments from communication devices in Africa ................................... 38
3.3 Overview of non-ionizing radiation exposure assessments from electric power sources in Africa ..................................... 44
3.4 Future studies ...........................................................................45
3.5 Conclusion ............................................................................... 46
References ...........................................................................................47

Chapter 4 Health effects of ionizing radiation among the general public and workers ........................................................................................ 50
4.1 Introduction of health effects among the general public and workers' exposure to ionizing radiation ........................... 50
4.2 Overview of health effects among the general public and workers' exposure to ionizing radiation sources ......................51
4.3 Sources such as nuclear power plants, UV radiation, X-ray machines, gold mining, etc. ............................................53
4.3.1 Nuclear power plants ................................................... 53
4.3.2 Ultraviolet (UV) radiation ........................................... 54
4.3.3 X-ray machines ............................................................ 54
4.3.4 Gold mining ................................................................. 54
4.4 Review of studies on long-term effects among the general public and workers' exposure to ionizing radiation .................55
4.5 Review of studies on short-term effects among the general public and workers' exposure to ionizing radiation .... 56
4.6 Review of studies on risk perception of ionizing radiation sources among the general public and workers ........................57
4.7 Future studies ...........................................................................59
4.8 Conclusion ............................................................................... 60
References .......................................................................................... 60

Chapter 5 Health effects of non-ionizing radiation among the general public and workers ............................................................................. 65
5.1 Introduction of health effects among the general public and workers' exposure to non-ionizing radiation .................... 65
5.2 Overview of health effects among the general public and workers' exposure to non-ionizing radiation sources .............. 66
5.3 Sources such as electric utility structures, telecommunication devices, and MRI ..................................... 68
5.4 Review of studies on long-term effects among the general public and workers' exposure to non-ionizing radiation ..........70
5.5 Review of studies on risk perception of ionizing radiation sources among the general public and workers ........................71
5.6 Review of studies on risk perception of non-ionizing radiation sources among the general public and workers .........73
5.7 Future studies ...........................................................................74
5.8 Conclusion ................................................................................75
References ...........................................................................................76

Index........................................................................................................................79