Radionuclide contents and radiological risk to the population due to raw minerals and soil samples from the mining sites of quality ceramic and pottery industries in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria

Abstract

Samples of domestically produced industrial raw minerals and soil samples from three mining sites of quality ceramic/smelting and pottery industries in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, were collected and analyzed for their 226Ra, 232Th and 40K contents using gamma-ray spectroscopy. The range of activity concentrations of the radionuclides in the industrial raw minerals were 17.55 ± 1.63 to 80.99 ± 2.61 Bq.kg-1 for 226Ra, 7.64 ± 0.77 to 23.94 ± 0.92 Bq.kg-1 for 232Th and 63.22 ± 3.43 to 503.90 ± 5.69 Bq.kg-1 for 40K, while in the soil samples they varied from 2.87 to 34.78 Bq.kg-1, 7.02 to 24.47 Bq.kg-1 and 7.05 to 162.81 Bq.kg-1 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. These results, along with the estimated absorbed dose rates, annual effective dose rates, radium equivalent (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex), internal hazard index (Hin) and representative of the gamma index (Iγg) are presented. The results obtained were below the internationally accepted safe limits. Therefore, the analyzed samples could be used in the local industries in the area as component raw materials and/or as building materials. Also, the mining activities of these minerals in the area have not significantly affected the natural radiation dose levels in the area, hence the resulting dose to the population is therefore considered generally low.