Assessment of natural radioactivity in soil,food and water in Fashina village,Ile-Ife,Osun state,Nigeria
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Date
2016
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Physics and Engineering physics,Obafemi Awolowo University
Abstract
This study identified changes in physical features in samples and most common diseases experienced among the populace through questionnaires and evaluated the exposure rates of the study area. It also assessed the natural radionuclides and evaluated soil-to-food transfer ratio of the radionuclides and some radiation indices in some soil, food and water in Fashina village, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria. This was with a view to evaluating the possible health implication of these radionuclides on the populace in the study area.
Questionnaires were first administered to identify the observed changes in the physical features of food and water, and the most common diseases in Fashina village. Ten samples from each of soil, foods and water were collected radially around Iron and Steel factory in the study area, especially in the agricultural lands. Soil and food (3 each) as well as two water samples were then collected at Opa reservoir as the control area, making a total number of 38 samples. The solid samples were oven dried, pulverized, sieved and weighed. The water samples, which comprised tap, well and rain water were collected using a clean container. Both the water and solid samples were then sealed in an air tight plastic container for at least 28 days to reach a secular equilibrium before counting commenced. Gamma spectrometric measurement was carried out using a calibrated sodium iodide (NaI(Tl)) detector. The spectra were analysed and the activity concentration of the radionuclides was computed directly and checked using a comparative method.
The result showed that the mean exposure rate in the study area was 0.14 µSv h-1. The mean radioactivity content obtained for 238U, 232Th and 40K were 12.14 ± 4.17 Bq kg-1, 23.23 ± 7.67 Bq kg-1 and 270.14 ± 61.79 Bq kg-1 respectively in soil samples, 8.56 ± 2.80 Bq kg-1, 13.17 ± 4.48 Bq kg-1 and 89.41 ± 24.15 Bq kg-1 respectively in food samples and 7.64 ± 2.95 Bq L-1, 10.04 ± 3.43 Bq L-1 and 69.04 ± 15.49 Bq L-1 respectively for 238U, 232Th and 40K in water samples. The mean transfer factors for 238U, 232Th and 40K were 0.73, 0.61, and 0.39 respectively. The mean values of 30.91, 15.64 and 12.47 nGy h-1 were obtained for the absorbed dose rate in soil, food and water respectively, while 37.90, 178.79 and 1085.23 μSv y-1 were obtained for the Annual Effective Doses (AED). Similarly, the Radium equivalent (Raeq) were 66.16 Bq kg-1, 34.28 Bq kg-1 and 27.31 Bq L-1 in soil, food and water respectively. The external and internal radiation hazard indices were 0.18 and 0.21, 0.09 and 0.12, 0.07 and 0.09 respectively for soil, food and water. The values obtained for the Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) in (x 10-3) were also 0.13, 0.63 and 3.80 for the soil, food and water samples respectively.
This study concluded that some of the estimated values of exposure rate, radioactivity contents and radiological impact parameters in the study area which were higher than those of the control area and the world average values poses a serious health risk to the environment and the inhabitants. Food and Water
Description
xvii,126p
Keywords
Natural radioactivity, Soil, Food, Water, Health risk
Citation
Oluyide,O.S.(2016). Assessment of natural radioactivity in soil,food and water in Fashina village,Ile-Ife,Osun state,Nigeria. Obafemi Awolowo University