Assessment of Natural Radioactivity in Rivers Sediment and Soil from the Copper Belt Artisanal Mining Region, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The concentrations and distribution of naturally occurring radionuclides (238U, 235U, 234U, 230Th, 226Ra, 210Pb, 232Th, 228Ra, and 40K) were determined by alpha and gamma spectrometry in soil and sediments collected from Luilu and Dilala rivers located in the mining district of Kolwezi (Lualaba Province) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The average concentrations of 238U and 226Ra in the analyzed samples were 5 - 10 times higher than the world average values for soil provided by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. However, the average concentrations of 232Th were found similar to the world average. In both river basins, artisanal mining activities and mineral washing sites displayed the higher concentration values of radionuclides. The mean values of health risk indices calculated for those sites were found significantly higher compared to world average levels. Radiation protection measures seem needed to ensure the radiation safety of local populations. Graphical Abstract

Heavy Metal Levels and Potential Ecological Risks Assessed at an Agroecosystem Site in Tropical Region

The concentrations and distribution of thirteen metals and metalloids were investigated in soils, sediments, and two biological matrices (the fish Clarias gariepisnis and the earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus) from the CECOMAF agroecosystem, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, in order to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities. The results revealed high concentrations of heavy metals, such as Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, and Hg all above values recommended by sediment quality guidelines and their probable effect levels on biota. According to the calculated Enrichment Factor, soil and sediments ranked from moderately to heavily polluted by Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Hg. The Contamination Degree and other ecological risk indices indicated very high contamination and very high ecological risks posed by Cd and Hg, respectively. The Geoaccumulation Index indicated that current metal concentrations in the agroecosystem originated from anthropogenic activities, while the Spearman correlation matrix values indicated that Hg could originate from different sources and pathways than the other metals. It was concluded that metals from unchecked anthropogenic activities have negatively impacted agricultural activities and fish production at the CECOMAF agroecosystem. Action to reduce the contamination level and the ecological risks by remediating and preventing metal pollution in the CECOMAF agroecosystem site is recommended.