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Natural radioactivity assessment and geophysical interpretation of parts of Igarra area, Southern Nigeria

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Abstract

To evaluate the concentration of natural radionuclides and to carry out geophysical interpretation of part of Igarra area, Southern Nigeria, an integrated geophysical approach was adopted involving radiometric, gravity, and magnetic methods. The RS-230 Super-Spec spectrometer, G-512 Lacoste and Romberg gravimeter, and the GSM-19v7.0 Overhauser instrument were used for the radiometric, gravity, and magnetic data acquisitions, respectively, along a specified traverse within the area. The datasets were processed using Oasis Montaj, Grav-Master, and Ms-Excel software. Gravity results show that the mean free air and Bouguer anomalies in the area are − 67.42 and − 84.22 mGal, while magnetic survey indicates that the mean corrected magnetic field intensity in this area is 32218.49 nT. Radiometric survey results show that the mean radioactivity concentrations of thorium (\({232}_{Th})\), uranium (\({238}_{U}\)), and potassium (\({40}_{K}\)) are 31.81 Bq/kg, 26.48 Bq/kg, and 167.33 Bq/kg, respectively. Further analysis also revealed that the mean radioactivity equivalent of the area is 84.86 Bq/kg; absorbed dose rate is 72.74nGy/h, while the mean external hazard index is 0.30. A novel model equation for estimating absorbed dose rate from radioactivity equivalent was also obtained and validated. The gravity and magnetic survey results indicate the presence of low-density and high magnetic basement rocks underlying this area, while radiometric results reveal that radiations in this area did not exceed acceptable standards of 370 Bq/kg for radioactivity equivalent, 84 nGy/h for absorbed dose rate, and unity which corresponds to 370 Bq/kg for external hazard index as recommended by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

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Data availability

The datasets analyzed during the current study were acquired from the study area, and some have been made available with the article. The remaining datasets not submitted with the manuscript are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the management of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) for providing the necessary geophysical equipment and software needed to carry out this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

    C. C. Agoha, F. B. Akiang, S. I. Ibeneme, S. I. Okechukwu & J. O. Njoku

  2. Geophysics Department, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Abuja, Nigeria

    B. B. Adejuwon

  3. Geotechnical Department, Arab Center for Engineering Studies, Doha, Qatar

    T. I. Mgbeojedo

  4. Department of Physics, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria

    C. N. Onwubuariri

Authors
  1. C. C. Agoha
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  2. B. B. Adejuwon
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  3. T. I. Mgbeojedo
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  4. C. N. Onwubuariri
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  5. F. B. Akiang
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  6. S. I. Ibeneme
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  7. S. I. Okechukwu
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  8. I. J. Ofoh
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  9. J. O. Njoku
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Contributions

All the authors contributed to the conceptualization and design of the study. Agoha selected the data acquisition points, reviewed existing literature, and interpreted parts of the geophysical data. Mgbeojedo, Onwubuariri, Okechukwu, and Ofoh wrote the research draft. Adejuwon and Ibeneme processed all the geophysical data. Akiang and Njoku processed and interpreted the radiometric data. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to C. C. Agoha.

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Agoha, C.C., Adejuwon, B.B., Mgbeojedo, T.I. et al. Natural radioactivity assessment and geophysical interpretation of parts of Igarra area, Southern Nigeria. Environ Monit Assess 194, 438 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10055-2

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