Evaluation of gamma-irradiated Barbula indica moss bags for monitoring geogenic dust and norm deposition in bauxite mining areas.

Authors

Sang Nguyen Thi Minh, Khiem Le Hong, Son Nguyen An

Published in

Journal of environmental radioactivity. Volume 300. Pages 108190. Oct 11, 2026. Epub Oct 11, 2026.

Abstract

This study investigates a biomonitoring approach using gamma-irradiated Barbula indica moss bags to evaluate atmospheric elemental deposition at the Tan Rai bauxite mining complex in Lam Dong, Vietnam. Moss samples were pre-treated with a 14 Gy dose to modify the matrix before a three-month dry-season deployment across four industrial nodes (P1-P4). Elemental quantification was performed using Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF). The results demonstrate a systematic increase in elemental concentrations for the irradiated matrix, with values rising by 12.4% to 28.1% compared to non-irradiated controls. Specifically, the relative difference in sequestration for Thorium (25.9%) and Uranium (28.1%) reached a peak at the industrial hotspot (P3), suggesting that radiation-induced surface modification may enhance the affinity for these elements. Comparative analysis indicates that while geogenic markers (Fe, Al, Ti) align with reported data from global bauxite-impacted regions, the elevated Thorium levels (mean 1.31 mg/kg) signify a distinct geochemical signature in the study area. These findings suggest that 14 Gy irradiated moss can serve as a stable passive sampler, providing a potential framework for environmental forensic monitoring in mining regions.

PMID:
42860065
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 12 Oct 2026.

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