Radiation exposure and environmental remediation at the Urgeiriça mine site, Portugal

The Urgeiriça mine and milling facilities, Portugal, was in operation until 2001. Site remediation, including clean-up of milling plant facilities and terrains was implemented during 2006-8 and it was completed with the placement of a multilayer cap on milling tailings and construction of a drainage system for retrieval of mine water and waste piles seepage followed by neutralization in a mine water treatment plant. During this period the monitoring of environmental radioactivity was periodically carried out in the Urgeiriça area. Results of environmental surveys carried out during last 10 years on ambient radiation dose, radon in surface air, radionuclide concentrations in soils, agriculture products, and water from wells and from surface streams receiving mine effluents, are reviewed. Results of this environmental survey are presented and radiation exposure of the local population is discussed.