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Measurement of activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th for assessment of radiation hazards from soils of the southwestern region of Nigeria

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Abstract

Activity concentrations of the selected radionuclides 40K, 226Ra and 232Th were measured in surface soil samples collected from 38 cities in the southwest region of Nigeria by means of gamma spectroscopy with a high-purity germanium detector. Measured activity concentration values of 40K varied from 34.9 ± 4.4 to 1,358.6 ± 28.5 Bq kg−1 (given on a dry mass (DM) basis) with a mean value of 286.5 ± 308.5 Bq kg−1; that of 226Ra varied from 9.3 ± 3.7 to 198.1 ± 13.8 Bq kg−1 with a mean value of 54.5 Bq kg−1 and a standard deviation of 38.7 Bq kg−1, while that of 232Th varied from 5.4 ± 1.1 to 502.0 ± 16.5 Bq kg−1 with a mean value of 91.1 Bq kg−1 and standard deviation of 100.9 Bq kg−1. The mean activity concentration values obtained for 226Ra and 232Th are greater than the world average values reported by the United Nations Scientific Committee on Effects of Atomic Radiation for areas of normal background radiation. Radiological indices were estimated for the radiation/health hazards of the natural radioactivity of all soil samples. Estimated absorbed dose rates in air varied from 12.42 ± 2.25 to 451.33 ± 19.06 nGy h−1, annual outdoor effective dose rates from 0.015 ± 0.003 to 0.554 ± 0.023 mSv year−1, internal hazard index from 0.10 ± 0.03 to 3.02 ± 0.16, external hazard index from 0.07 ± 0.01 to 2.60 ± 0.11, representative level index from 0.19 ± 0.03 to 6.84 ± 0.29, activity index from 0.09 ± 0.02 to 3.42 ± 0.15, and radium equivalent activity from 26.95 ± 5.04 to 963.15 ± 41.87 Bq kg−1. Only the mean value of the representative level index exceeds the limit for areas of normal background radiation. All other indices show mean values that are lower than the recommended limits.

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Acknowledgments

The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance given by Messers S.B. Ibikunle, T.J. Ojo and Mrs. Mosunmola Bello in collecting samples. The assistance of Dr. I.R. Ajayi in sample analysis is also acknowledged.

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  1. Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

    Oladele Samuel Ajayi

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Correspondence to Oladele Samuel Ajayi.

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Ajayi, O.S. Measurement of activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th for assessment of radiation hazards from soils of the southwestern region of Nigeria. Radiat Environ Biophys 48, 323–332 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-009-0225-0

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