Radiological considerations in using uranium mine waste rock for road construction materials

Abstract

India's road construction is vital for its infrastructure growth, requiring approximately 20,000 tons of high-quality aggregates per kilometer - materials that are increasingly scarce, leading to higher costs and delays. The industrial sector, a cornerstone of the Indian economy, also struggles with waste management. Earlier studies suggested that industrial waste can be used in road construction materials however, the radiological considerations were not focused. This paper explores the potential of utilizing uranium mine waste rock in road construction materials. In the early stages of uranium mining in India, millions of tons of waste rock are generated and typically discarded, requiring extensive land and costly management. In this study, we assessed the radiological considerations in using waste rocks as road construction material generated from lean uranium ore. For this, a typical layered road design in India is adopted and dose rate were evaluated by QAD-CGGP code calculations and real-world measurements. Results indicate that the external radiation dose by using these waste rock in road construction materials remains below 1 mSv/year for the public. The observed dose rate complies the National regulatory agency; Atomic Energy Regulatory Board criteria of 1 mSv/y for the unrestricted use of bulk materials in public domain. This approach not only addresses resource scarcity but also supports environmental sustainability by conserving natural resources, reducing ecological imbalances, and promoting a circular economy.