In recent times, groundwater has emerged as an alternative drinking water source for populations in Ghana’s gold mining communities due to high pollution levels in surface water resources caused by artisanal miners. This study presents the findings on different radioactivity levels in groundwater, their sources, the characteristics of aquifers in the study area, and the impact of radionuclides on human health as a factor of water quality. The mean activity concentrations of radionuclides in groundwater samples were 0.1 ± 0.04 Bq/L for Ra-226, 0.36 ± 0.05 Bq/L for Ra-228, and 1.41 ± 0.10 Bq/L for K-40. The activity concentration of 228Ra exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline level of 0.1 Bq/L. The elevated levels of Ra-228 in groundwater were found to be of natural origin, emanating from the aquifer rocks in the study area. Groundwater resources near mining zones showed higher radioactivity levels. The corresponding committed effective dose from consuming such groundwater was estimated to be higher than the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) recommended value of 0.3 mSv/y for children and infants, indicating potential health risks.

Artisanal gold mining can enhance natural radioactivity in nearby environmental media. This study assessed health risks and environmental impacts associated with the release of natural radionuclides in Atiwa West, Ghana. Activities of naturally occurring radionuclides were measured in soil samples (Ra-226, Th-232, K-40) and water samples (Ra-226, Ra-228, K-40) by HPGe γ-spectrometry; Ra-226 in vegetation was estimated from soil activities using a transfer factor. The mean activity concentrations in soils were 22.1 ± 2.1 Bq/kg (Ra-226), 27.5 ± 2.3 Bq/kg (Th-232) and 198 ± 22 Bq/kg (K-40). At several water locations, Ra-226 and Ra-228 exceeded the WHO screening levels for drinking water of 1.0 Bq/L and 0.1 Bq/L, respectively. Radiological hazard indices attributable to inhalation and ingestion were evaluated. Overall, soil radiological risks were low; however, approximately 22% of sites recorded values above the global average annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE). In some locations, the committed effective dose from drinking water surpassed the WHO screening threshold of 0.1 mSv/y, with the associated excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) exceeding 2.9 × 10⁻⁴. Overall, the mining-affected waters presented a greater potential radiological impact than the soils, underscoring the need for water quality management and periodic monitoring in artisanal mining areas.