Abstract:
In order to study the environmental radiation level and change trend of zirconium silicate associated mining enterprises, the environmental surface γ dose rate and natural radioactivity content in the soil were monitored in and around the plant area of a typical zirconium silicate enterprise in Guangzhou from 2020 to 2023. The results showed that from 2020 to 2023, the environmental surface γ dose rate of the enterprise ranged from 83~206 nGy/h, the natural radioactive uranium content in the soil ranged from 2.95~24.2 ug/g, the thorium content ranged from 27.3~103 μg/g, and the radium-226 content ranged from 39.8~134.06 Bq/kg, all of which were higher than the level in the 80s of the 20 th century. The dose rate of surface γ in the surrounding environment of the plant showed a downward trend, and the area near the maximum landing concentration area was low. The content of natural radioactive thorium and uranium in the soil near the plant was low, and the terrain was generally high in the north and low in the south, while the content of natural radioactive thorium and uranium in the soil was high in the south and low in the north. The content of natural radioactive radium-226 in the soil showed a decreasing trend in the plant area, with a large decreasing rate in the northern part of the country and a small rate in the flat terrain in the south. It was recommended to use a complete set of production equipment with high airtightness to reduce the escape and generation of dust and reduce the impact of radioactivity on the surrounding environment.