Gamma activity and radiation dose in concrete building blocks used for construction of dwellings in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

Radioactivity concentrations of concrete building block samples made and used in Jos, Nigeria, were determined using a gamma ray spectrometry method. The mean values of the radioactivity concentrations were calculated as 66, 126 and 589 Bq kg(-1) for (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K, respectively. The radium equivalent activities ranged between 131 and 712 Bq kg(-1), with six of the samples exceeding the UNSCEAR reported maximum permissible level of 370 Bq kg(-1). The mean radium equivalent activity (292 Bq kg(-1)) is higher than the values available in the literature for some countries by factors ranging between 2 and 5, a situation that can be traced to the practice of sourcing sand aggregates from mining sites. The indoor annual effective dose for a dwelling of dimension 3.6 x 3.6 x 3.0 m(3) was calculated as 0.81 mSv.

Gamma radioactivity levels and their corresponding external exposure of soil samples from tantalite mining areas in Oke-Ogun, South-Western Nigeria

“…In the last two decades, many studies have been carried out on the natural background and artificial radiation levels in Nigeria (Oresegun et al, 1990;Obed et al, 2005;Jibiri et al, 1998;Jibiri et al, 2011;Farai et al, 2006;Ademola et al, 2006).…”

Radioecological impacts of tin mining

“…Attempts have been made in the past to assess the human health impacts of tin mining in the Jos Plateau, Nigeria (e.g., Ibeanu 2003;Funtua and Elegba 2005;Ademola and Farai 2006;Jibiri and Agomuo 2007;Jibiri et al 2007aJibiri et al , b, 2009Ademola 2008;Ajayi 2008;Arogunjo et al 2009;Olise et al 2010Olise et al , 2014, but few studies have considered non-human biota (but see Møller and Mousseau, 2013). Recently, international standards have also been set to protect non-human biota from the effects of exposure to ionizing radiation (ICRP 2003;UNSCEAR 2008;ICRP 2009;IAEA 2011).…”

Estimation of Annual Effective Dose Due to Ingestion of Natural Radionuclides in Cattle in Tin Mining Areas of Jos Plateau, Nigeria: Are Large Mammals Really Affected?

“…In Jos, Nigeria, attempts have been made towards assessing the radiological consequence of mining in several localities [2]- [13]. A summary of the type of samples and results of each of these studies is presented in Table 1.…”

“…We have been following studies from this region with technically enhanced background radiation level due to tin mining activities in the suburbs of Jos Plateau State, Nigeria [2] [5]-[9] [13]. The findings of some of these studies have been presented in one of our most recent papers [15] and Table 1.…”