A CASE STUDY OF RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION IN OIL PONDS AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS

Abstract

This paper tried to highlight one of the most important sources of the environments pollutions which is produced water. Produced water always contains impurities and if present in sufficient concentrations,these impurities can adversely impact the environment. This work aims to study the level of radiation exposure generated from oil ponds for WAHA field as a case study and assessing the health risks for employers of the oil fields. Furthermore, evaluating the environmental impact of the local areas and the population growth is another approach. There is a lack of studies in this field and the interest in addressing the environmental impact, especially the densely populated areas. This will establish a baseline map of radioactive elements concentration levels in Libyan sites as well as determine radioactivity criteria and assessing of the dose and health risk resulting from radioactivity. This study shows the seriousness of these radiations from the refining and production of oil companies to neighboring cities and could serve as important radiometric baseline data upon which future epidemiological studies and environmental monitoring initiatives.