Assessment of geogenic natural radionuclides contents of soil samples collected from Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria.

Usikalu, M.R. and Maleka, P.P and Malik, M and Oyeyemi , Kehinde D. (2015) Assessment of geogenic natural radionuclides contents of soil samples collected from Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria. International Journal of Radiation Research, 13 (4). pp. 355-361.

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Abstract

Background: Natural radionuclides are always present in the environment. Human exposure to the background radiation is inevitable. It is therefore important to assess health risk associated with these radionuclides. Materials and Methods: The distribution of natural radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K in soil samples collected from all the twenty (20) local Governments headquarter areas in Ogun state, Nigeria were determined by gamma spectroscopy using a high-purity germanium detector. The measured concentrations were used in estimating the radiological risk pose to people living in these communities. Results: The activity concentrations measured ranged between 3 ± 1 Bqkg-1(Otta) to 27 ± 6 Bqkg-1(Odeda) for 238U, 10 ± 1 Bqkg-1(Otta) to 126 ± 6 Bqkg-1(Ijebu Igbo) for 232Th and 7 ± 6 Bqkg-1(Aiyetoro) to 497 ± 1 Bqkg-1(Odeda) for 40K. The mean radium equivalent calculated was 77.6 Bqkg-1 which is lower than 370 Bqkg-1 of the world average and the hazard indices calculated were lower than unity. Conclusion: The absorbed rate and annual effective dose estimated for most of the locations are in good agreement with world average values except for Akomoje, Ake-Abeokuta, Ogere, Ijebu-Igbo and Odeda.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QC Physics Q Science > QE Geology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Engineering, Science and Mathematics > School of Physics
Depositing User:	Dr K. D. Oyeyemi
Date Deposited:	25 Feb 2016 07:31
Last Modified:	26 Feb 2016 09:56
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/6148

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