Natural radioactive level and ecological health assessment of coal-bearing strata in the East China

Based on the measurement of γ radiation dose rate, radon radioactivity and ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, ⁴⁰K radionuclide testing, the radioactive anomalies of coal-bearing strata in East China were identified to evaluate the specific activities of natural radio-nuclides in air, solid, water and plant in the typical area of the regional coal-bearing occurrences. The results show that there are significant differences in natural radioactivity between the Carboniferous-Permian common coalfields and the Cambrian stone coal occurrences. The γ radiation dose rate and radon radioactivity measured on the surface of ordinary coal mining area are generally in the background level range, and the nuclide content of solid medium, water body and plant samples in the mining area is in the normal level, and there is no radioactive pollution. The stone coal distribution zone in East China belongs to the high background region of radioactive γ radiation, and the ²³⁸U and ²²⁶Ra obviously are accumulated in coal, coal gangue, soil, rock, and the spatial distribution of these natural radionuclides shows significant variability. In the monitoring area, the effective dose of γ radiation exceeds the international limit value of 1 mSv/a, the total effective dose exceeded 2 mSv/a, and total α and total β concentrations of the groundwater are 10~30 times of the limit values. The γ radiation shows higher background value in the stone coal-bearing area, and radioactive pollution cannot be ignored. The public in the stone coal area of the East China is subjected to higher radiation dose, and groundwater, building material and plant have been contaminated by radioactive pollution sporadically. It is necessary to strengthen monitoring of radioactive environment and take appropriate control measures.