Radiation exposure from naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) is a significant contributor to human health risks. The aim of this study was to access the levels of radionuclides in selected surface and groundwater sources in Abakaliki, southeastern Nigeria. A total of 24 water samples were collected and analyzed for their radioactive concentrations of NORMs like 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th, using sodium iodide NaI(TI) detector. The parameters used for the calculations were radium equivalent activity (Raeq), gamma absorbed dose rate, annual gonadal equivalent dose rate (AGEDr), external radiation hazard (Hex), internal radiation hazard, representative level indices (Iγr), and alpha indices (Iα). From the results, the activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th ranged from 120.83 ± 2.57–395.50 ± 10.27 Bqkg− 1, 6.40 ± 1.01–10.56 ± 0.83 Bqkg− 1, and 0.97 ± 0.05–3.48 ± 0.81 Bqkg− 1, respectively. The mean values of specific activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th were 21.59 ± 8.13 Bqkg− 1, 6.93 ± 3.31 Bqkg− 1 , and 1.99 ± 37.51 Bqkg− 1, for 40K, 226Ra and 232Th, respectively. The mean values for Raeqwas 09.56 Bqkg− 1, which was lower than the acceptable limit of 370 Bqkg− 1. The AGEDr mean value was 59.04 mSv.y–1, which was more than the United Nation Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation’s recommended reference value of 0.1 mSv.y–1, resulting from 1 year’s intake of studied water samples. The mean values for Iγr and Iα were 2.58 g and 0.45 Bqkg− 1, respectively. The results of all the derived parameters were below the permissible limits of 1.0 Bqkg− 1, except AGEDr and Iyr, which were more than the worldwide reference value of 0.1 mSv.y–1 and 1.0 Bqkg− 1, respectively. Prolonged consumption of water from the study area may pose health risks due to elevated radionuclide levels. Thus, the natural water sources in the area must be treated adequately using appropriate water treatment methods, like reverse osmosis, before use, especially for drinking purpose to forestall health risks associated with radiological hazards. Such hazards include damage to the genetics system, eye defects, smear of skin, destruction of the circulatory system, lung cancer, and bone cancer and cavity.

Assessment of levels of radionuclides in selected surface and groundwater sources in Abakaliki Area, Southeastern Nigeria

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2026年1月6日

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Augustine Oshimiri,
Paulinus N. Nnabo,
Raulatu M. Piwuna,
Ezindu Ebuka Okoli,
Okechukwu Pius Aghamelu

摘要

Radiation exposure from naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) is a significant contributor to human health risks. The aim of this study was to access the levels of radionuclides in selected surface and groundwater sources in Abakaliki, southeastern Nigeria. A total of 24 water samples were collected and analyzed for their radioactive concentrations of NORMs like ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³²Th, using sodium iodide NaI(TI) detector. The parameters used for the calculations were radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), gamma absorbed dose rate, annual gonadal equivalent dose rate (AGEDr), external radiation hazard (H_ex), internal radiation hazard, representative level indices (I_γr), and alpha indices (I_α). From the results, the activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³²Th ranged from 120.83 ± 2.57–395.50 ± 10.27 Bqkg^− 1, 6.40 ± 1.01–10.56 ± 0.83 Bqkg^− 1, and 0.97 ± 0.05–3.48 ± 0.81 Bqkg^− 1, respectively. The mean values of specific activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th were 21.59 ± 8.13 Bqkg^− 1, 6.93 ± 3.31 Bqkg^− 1 , and 1.99 ± 37.51 Bqkg^− 1, for ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th, respectively. The mean values for Ra_eqwas 09.56 Bqkg^− 1, which was lower than the acceptable limit of 370 Bqkg^− 1. The AGEDr mean value was 59.04 mSv.y^–1, which was more than the United Nation Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation’s recommended reference value of 0.1 mSv.y^–1, resulting from 1 year’s intake of studied water samples. The mean values for Iγr and Iα were 2.58 g and 0.45 Bqkg^− 1, respectively. The results of all the derived parameters were below the permissible limits of 1.0 Bqkg^− 1, except AGEDr and I_yr, which were more than the worldwide reference value of 0.1 mSv.y^–1 and 1.0 Bqkg^− 1, respectively. Prolonged consumption of water from the study area may pose health risks due to elevated radionuclide levels. Thus, the natural water sources in the area must be treated adequately using appropriate water treatment methods, like reverse osmosis, before use, especially for drinking purpose to forestall health risks associated with radiological hazards. Such hazards include damage to the genetics system, eye defects, smear of skin, destruction of the circulatory system, lung cancer, and bone cancer and cavity.