Evaluation of indoor radon level and its health risk parameters has been carried out in three communities Azuabie, Trans-Amadi and Nkpogu towns in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. A pocket sized Corentium Arthings digital radon detector meter was used to record the indoor radon concentration levels. The geographical coordinates were recorded using a hand-held geographical positioning system (GPS) for the various sample points. A total of 30 sample points were evaluated, with 10 sample points for each town respectively. The results of the concentration levels showed that for Azuabie (AZ) town, the concentration level varied from 6.660 Bqm-3 to 13.690 Bqm-3 with an average of 10.65±0.95Bqm-3. Nkpogu (NK) town the results of the indoor concentration level ranged from 9.250 Bqm-3 to 18.870 Bqm-3 with an average of 13.32±1.02 Bqm-3, Nkpogu (NK) town, the indoor concentration level ranged from 7.030 Bqm-3 to 20.350 Bqm-3 with an average of 12.25±1.34Bqm-3. The annual absorbed dose for Azuabie, Trans-Amadi and Nkpogu varied as follows, 1.680 mSvy-1 – 3.921 mSvy-1, 2.334 mSvy-1 – 47610 mSvy-1 and 1.774 mSvy-2 – 5.134 mSvy-1 respectively. The annual effect dose rate for the three towns ranged from 0.403 mSvy-1 – 0.941mSvy-1, 0.560 mSvy-1 - 1.143 mSvy-1 and 0.426 mSvy-1 – 1.143mSvy-1. The excess life time cancer risk varied from 1.4117 – 3.294, 1.9607 – 3.999 and 1.4901 – 3.999 respectively. The results of the indoor concentration levels annual and the absorbed dose and the annual effective dose rate are all below the ICRP safe limit. However, the results of the excess life time cancer risk are all higher than the ICRP safe standard limit of 0.029×10-3.
A study on terrestrial background ionization radiation was carried out around active selected telecommunications sites in Port Harcourt. This study was done using Radalert 100 and the geographical position system (GPS). The exposure rate ranged from 0.033 to 0.141 with a mean value of 0.123±0.20 (mR/h) which is lower than the acceptable limit of 0.0133 (mR/h). The absorbed dose ranged from 287.1 nG/h to 1226.7 nGy/hr with a mean value of 1066.64±1769.6 nGy/hr, which is quite higher than the acceptable limit of 89.0 nGy/h. The annual effective dose ranged between 0.44 and 1.88 mSv/y, with a mean value of 1.642.7 mSv/y which is quite higher than the safe limit of 1.0 mSv/y. The excess lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) varied from 1.54 x10-3 to 6.58x10-3 with a mean value of 5. 72±9.5 mSv/y. The result from this study is higher than the acceptable limit of 0.29 x10-3 as recommended by UNSCEAR. This means that people living within these areas may be exposed to cancer in later life. The effective dose of the various organs (ED Organs) are within the recommended safe limit of ICRP. The testes and the bone marrow are the most sensitive to radiation with the percentage distribution of 18.0% and 16.0%. Since the Annual effective dose, absorbed dose, and excess lifetime cancer risk are higher than the world standard, the chances of contracting cancer related illnesses are significant. It is recommended that monitoring of the exposure rate to ionizing radiation within the environment should be carried out. Also, individuals should on regular basis request for specific organ dose test.
The evaluation of background ionizing radiation in some selected X-rays diagnostic centers in Port Harcourt has been carried out. This research was achieved with the used of Radex (RD 1212) radiation meter to measure the exposure rate due to ionizing radiation, and geographical coordinate system was employed to record the coordinates of the sampled locations. The exposure rate ranged from 0.14 to 0.22 μSv/h with a mean value of 0.180.03 μSv/h, this value was quite higher than the acceptable limit of 0.133μSv/h set by the international commission on radiological protection (ICRP). The computed annual equivalent dose ranged from 0.25 to 0.39 mSv/y with a mean value of 0.310.05 mSv/y, the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) dose varied from 0.17 to 0.27 mSv/y with a mean value of 0.220.35 mSv/y. This value is lesser than the safe limit of 1mSv/y as recommended by ICRP. The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) ranged from 0.64x10-3 to 0.77x10-3 mSv/y with a mean value of 0.760.12x10-3 mSv/y which is quite higher than the safe limit of 0.29x10-3 (UNSEAR). Therefore, the diagnostic centers in Port Harcourt may not be radiologically safe to both occupational workers and patients who are radiologically diagnosed from the general public. Even though the signs of health risk issues are not physically pronounced the chances of contracting radiological health relative issues is still significant. Therefore, is it recommended that adequate steps should be taken to ensure that radiation leakage should be contained, if possible to the barest minimum.
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