Radionuclide Contents and Physicochemical Water Quality Indicators in Stream, Well and Borehole Water Sources in High Radiation Area of Abeokuta, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Water samples from streams, hand-dug wells and boreholes in high background radiation areas in Abeokuta, Nigeria have been collected in order to determine the activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th in the samples as well as their physicochemical characteristics. These parameters were evaluated in order to deter-mine the quality of these water sources to the local population, who use these water resources for drinking and domestic activities. Measurements of radioactivity in the water samples were carried out using γ-ray spectroscopy, while standard chemistry methods were used for the physicochemical determinations of these quality parameters. A total of fourteen representative water samples from streams (7), boreholes (4), and hand dug wells (3) were collected for study. The determined activity concentrations of the radionuclides in these samples were used to calculate the effective dose to the population from due to ingestion of and drink-ing the locally available water. The total annual ingestion effective doses were found to vary between 115.00 ± 1.15μSv and 1362.30 ± 438.02 μSv. The physicochemical parameters where found to be lower than the prescribed standard safe limits in the water sources except for the nitrate and phosphate levels which were particularly high in the water samples from boreholes and hand-dug wells. The radiation effective ingestion dose due to ingestion of water from dug wells and streams was found to be higher than the dose due to inges-tion of water from borehole sources in the studied areas. The results obtained in this study, have been taken as a baselines for physicochemical parameters and activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in water samples within Odeda and Obafemi-owode parts of Abeokuta, Nigeria

Radioisotope and Metal Concentrations in Borehole Water Samples of Umuahia and Umudike, Nigeria

“…It had a range of below detection limit (BDL) to 21.94±2.50 Bq/L in the water samples. The values were lower than those obtained by Jibiri et al (2010) who analyzed radinuclides in water samples from high background radiation areas of Abeokuta, Nigeria. U-238 and Th-232 had ranges of BDL -7.85 ±1.80 Bq/L and BDL -5.76 ±0.53 respectively.…”

Radiological Risks Assessment of Ogun State Drinking Water

“…The coastal sand area of the study environment is in contact with recent alluvium. Groundwater of the study area is subjected to severe degradation due to quarry activities, sand mining and the likes (Adedeji et al, 2014;Aladejana and Talabi, 2013;Jibiri et al, 2010).…”

Determination of Terrestrial Radiation Level of Obite, Rivers State

“…According to Jibiri et al (1993), radionuclides are unstable elements, which in the process of attaining stability, spontaneously disintegrates, giving out dangerous ionizing radiation to the environment. However, the background radiation level of a particular place, is linearly propotional to the ecological formation of such area (Jibiri et al;1993).…”

“…According to Jibiri et al (1993), radionuclides are unstable elements, which in the process of attaining stability, spontaneously disintegrates, giving out dangerous ionizing radiation to the environment. However, the background radiation level of a particular place, is linearly propotional to the ecological formation of such area (Jibiri et al;1993). The inheritance of radiological consequences posed by oil and gas exploration, exploitation, mining and processing of petroleum activities across the Niger Delta, has been heavy for the past forty (40) years (Ononugbo et al, 2011).…”