Integrated assessment of natural and technologically enhanced radioactive materials (TENORM) in oil-producing regions: Implications for environmental health risk and sustainable remediation.

Authors

Great Iruoghene Edo, Enoch O Omoriwhovo, Joshua Othuke Orogu, Kugbere Emumejaye, Musa A Said, Ephraim Evi Alex Oghroro, Joseph Oghenewogaga Owheruo, Patrick Othuke Akpoghelie, Emad Yousif, Agatha Ngukuran Jikah, Arthur Efeoghene Athan Essaghah, Ibiyinka Agboola Fuwape, Iyabo Priscilla Afitijagun, Huzaifa Umar, Dina S Ahmed, Ahmed A Alamiery

Published in

Journal of environmental radioactivity. Volume 299. Pages 108124. Aug 07, 2026. Epub Aug 07, 2026.

Abstract

Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) are ubiquitous in Earth's crust, but oil and gas extraction activities concentrate these radionuclides into technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (TENORM), creating substantial environmental and public health concerns. Produced water, scale deposits, and sludge accumulations containing elevated radium isotopes (²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra) are generated in hundreds of millions of tonnes annually across global production basins. This review critically synthesizes current knowledge on TENORM occurrence, environmental transport, human and ecological health risks, monitoring technologies, and sustainable remediation strategies in oil producing regions. An integrative review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, searching Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar for peer reviewed literature published between 2020 and 2026. TENORM contamination is widespread, with 95% of produced water, 82% of scale, and 58% of sludge exceeding international exemption values. Environmental fate is governed by particle size fractionation and chemical speciation, while atmospheric radon dispersion creates inhalation doses exceeding safety thresholds. Emerging technologies including real time sensor networks with artificial intelligence anomaly detection and powdered activated carbon treatment achieving >97% radium removal offer promising solutions. Substantial knowledge gaps persist in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Asia Pacific region, alongside absent longitudinal epidemiological studies directly linking TENORM exposure to health outcomes. Integrated, risk-based management frameworks harmonizing monitoring, assessment, and remediation are urgently required to protect public health and advance sustainable development in oil producing regions.

PMID:
42570454
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 09 Aug 2026.

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