Covenant University Repository (Covenant University) · 2015 · 37 citations · 0 references
EngineeringEnvironmental SciencesSoil SciencesEnvironmental HealthRadiation DetectionRadiation SafetyBackground Radiation MeasurementRadiation HealthRadiation Risk AssessmentRadiochemical AnalysisRadiological Hazard IdentificationRadiological Risk AssessmentEnvironmental Radionuclide AnalysisGamma SpectroscopyHigh-purity Germanium DetectorsNatural Background Radiation AssessmentNatural Radioactivity MeasurementRadiological Health Risk AssessmentRadionuclide AnalysisRadionuclide Content Assessment
Background: Natural radionuclides are always present in the environment. Human exposure to the background radia�on is inevitable. It is therefore important to assess health risk associated with these radionuclides. Materials and Methods: The distribu�on 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 concentra�ons were used in es�ma�ng the radiological risk pose to people living in these communi�es. Results: The ac�vity concentra�ons measured ranged between 3 ± 1 Bqkg-1(O0a) to 27 ± 6 Bqkg-1(odeda) for 238U, 10 ± 1 Bqkg-1(O0a) 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 effec�ve dose es�mated for most of the loca�ons are in good agreement with world average values except for Akomoje, Ake-Abeokuta, Ogere, Ijebu-Igbo and Odeda.