The impact of radioactivity from tin mining on Bangka island

The industry of natural resources processing will produce radioactive tailings. The mobilized and accumulated tailings at the end of the industrial process are called TENORM (Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material). The research objective was to observe the radioactivity of TENORM in the tin mining area of Bangka Island and the impact of radioactivity on the health of the surrounding community. Specific activity of U-238, U-235, Th-232, Ra-226 and K-40 in tailings and mineral samples taken at 20 sampling points on the island of Bangka using gamma spectrometry. Quantitative analysis was obtained from the activity in the tailings and identified minerals for U-238 ranged from 5.408 to 5411.269 Bq/kg, Th-238 ranged from 2.911 to 7543.455 Bq/kg, Ra-266 ranged from 2.473 to 4231.059 Bq/kg, U-235 ranged from 0.024 to 44.705 Bq/kg and K-40 radionuclides ranged from 2.788 to 217.430 Bq/kg. The ratio of the activity concentration between U-235 to U-238 has a value of 0.00423 to 0.00927 with a mean ranged from 0.00754. The isotope composition of U-235/U-238 indicates the Uranium content of the mineral can be used to evaluate the presence of Uranium sources. According to ELCR and AGDE values for long-term evaluation, it is known that workers who live or work in mining areas have a higher chance of getting cancer than local residents in other locations.