Darko E O, Kpeglo D O, Akaho E H K, Schandorf C, Adu P A S, Faanu A, Abankwah E, Lawluvi H, Awudu A R
Radiation Protection Institute, GAEC, Box LG80, Legon, Ghana.
Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2012 Feb;148(3):318-28. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncr088. Epub 2011 Apr 11.
Processing of crude oil has been carried out in Ghana for more than four decades without measures to assess the hazards associated with the naturally occurring radionuclides in the raw and processed materials. This study investigates the exposure of the public to (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in crude oil, petroleum products and wastes at the Tema oil refinery in Ghana using gamma-ray spectrometry. The study shows higher activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides in the wastes than the crude oil and the products with estimated hazard indices less than unity. The values obtained in the study are within recommended limits for public exposure indicating that radiation exposure from processing of the crude oil at the refinery does not pose any significant radiological hazard but may require monitoring to establish long-term effect on both public and workers.
在加纳，原油加工已进行了四十多年，却没有采取措施评估原材料和加工材料中天然存在的放射性核素所带来的危害。本研究利用伽马射线能谱法，调查了加纳特马炼油厂原油、石油产品及废弃物中公众对镭-226、钍-232和钾-40的暴露情况。研究表明，废弃物中天然放射性核素的活度浓度高于原油和产品，估计危害指数小于1。研究所得数值在公众暴露的推荐限值范围内，这表明炼油厂原油加工产生的辐射暴露不会造成任何重大的放射危害，但可能需要进行监测以确定对公众和工人的长期影响。
