Determination of specific activity of²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K and radiological hazard assessment of Tuomo River Sediments in Burutu, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The activity concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K in sediments samples from Tuomo river in Burutu, Delta State, Nigeria have been determined using gamma spectrometry NaI(TI) detector. The concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K in the sediments range from 18.69±1.88−77.99±4.35 Bqkg −1 , 59.67±11.85−149.03±23.97 Bqkg −1 and 580.19±3.89−873.04±4.86 Bqkg −1 respectively. The mean values were found to be above their respective world average values. Radiological risk assessments were carried out to ascertain the possible radiological effects associated with the use of the sediments. The results for the radiological hazard parameters revealed that the sediments are in tandem with recommended safe limits. Therefore, the use of Tuomo river sediment for purpose of building and other human needs is generally of negligible radiological concern for human health.

Determining of radioactivity and the accompanying radiological hazards in the sediments of the Euphrates River and wells in Babylon governorate – Iraq

“…Others [8] characterized the radiological hazards of industrial 137 Cs and normal Iso-RTK of Bafa Lake using a HPGe detector. The visual distribution of these radionuclides offer good information for future studies.…”

Radiological risk assessment of 238U, 232TH and 40K in the top soils of ahero paddy fields of Kisumu county, Kenya

“…The origin of radionuclides of Uranium 238 U, Thorium 232 Th and Potassium 40 K dates back to the formation of the Earth [1]. The three radionuclides are found in significant concentrations in various environmental media such as water, soil sediments, plants and foodstuffs [2] and their contents in the soil are directly related to the weathered bedrock.…”