The Geological Division for Radioactive and Rare Elements (GDRR) has released the results of the surveys on natural radioactive resources with high radiation risks, saying that it has defined the groups of mines and the radiation fields that need to be controlled or intervened.
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| Vietnam localises 10 areas for controlling radioactive contamination risks |
Mineral mines in Binh Dinh affected by radioactivity
The “titanium fever” in Binh Dinh province broke out six months ago, turning a large coastal area in the province into a vast exploitation site.
Experts from the National Atomic Energy Institute have emphasized that it is necessary to control monazite, generated during the titanium exploitation and processing. In principle, this is considered a radioactivity which must be contained under concrete vaults on selected dumping grounds.
Meanwhile, the inspection tours to eight titanium exploitation enterprises in Binh Dinh province found that the regulations on the environment and water resource protection have been ignored.
Deputy Inspector Chief of the Binh Dinh provincial Department of Natural Resources and the Environment Vo Minh Thanh pointed out that the total radioactivity found at the zircon grinding workshop and the exploitation spout of the Ban Mai Mineral Production and Trade exceeded the allowed levels.
Dr Vo Ngoc Anh, Deputy Director of the Binh Dinh provincial Department for Science and Technology, when presenting the research work on assessing the radioactivity situation caused by the titanium exploitation activities in the coastal area of Binh Dinh, has come to a conclusion that the people living in the titanium ore areas, and workers living at sifting workshops face the higher risk of getting affected by radioactivity than in other areas.
He said that the activities of exploitation, processing and use of minerals have led to the increase of the penetration of radioactive elements to the environment, thus causing radioactivity pollution.
After measuring the radioactivity level in 1,000 points of a titanium exploitation sites in the central coastal area, scientists have found that the radioactivity contaminated area has the width of 200-500 meters and the length of 6 kilometers.
10 areas localised for radioactivity control
The scientists, after considering the radiation frequency, have defined the 10 areas considered as having high latent risks to people’s health that need to be localized for radioactivity control.
According to Dr Nguyen Van Nam from GDRR, the 10 areas have been found as having the high risks of natural radiation that may harm people. These include the Ha Giang – Tuyen Quang – Yen Bai, Hoa Binh – Phu Tho, Cao Bang – Bac Kan – Lang Son, Lai Chau – Lao Cai, Phu Tho – Tuyen Quang – Hoa Binh, Thai Nguyen – Tuyen Quang – Bac Kan – Lang Son in the north; and the Dak Lak – Gia Lai – Khanh Hoal Kon Tum – Quang Nam – Gia Lai, Quang Nam – Da ang – Quang Ngai – Kon Tum, Binh Dinh – Gia Lai – Quang Ngai in the central region.
The research work on gamma radiation intensity, the air radioactivity concentration has defined two types of mines, namely uranium mine and radioactivity containing mine with the natural radiation intensity level that may harm people. These mines need to be analyzed more thoroughly and localized to make them serve the socio-economic development.
The research work by the Geological Division for Radioactive and Rare Elements has been highly appreciated by scientists also because this provides new awareness of the management and assessment over the natural radiation, serving as the foundation for policy makers to draw up social policies and for scientists to implement necessary environment protection measures.