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Radionuclide contents and radiological risk to the populationdue to raw minerals and soil samples from the mining sites of quality ceramic and potteryindustries in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2011

N.N. Jibiri
Affiliation:
Radiation and Health Physics Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
N.U. Esen
Affiliation:
Radiation and Health Physics Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
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Abstract

Samples of domestically produced industrial raw minerals and soil samples from threemining sites of quality ceramic/smelting and pottery industries in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria,were collected and analyzed for their 226Ra, 232Th and40K contents using gamma-ray spectroscopy. The range of activity concentrationsof the radionuclides in the industrial raw minerals were 17.55 ± 1.63 to 80.99 ± 2.61Bq.kg-1 for 226Ra, 7.64 ± 0.77 to 23.94 ± 0.92Bq.kg-1 for 232Th and 63.22 ± 3.43 to 503.90 ± 5.69Bq.kg-1 for 40K, while in the soil samples they variedfrom 2.87 to 34.78 Bq.kg-1, 7.02 to 24.47 Bq.kg-1 and 7.05 to 162.81Bq.kg-1 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K,respectively. These results, along with the estimated absorbed dose rates, annualeffective dose rates, radium equivalent(Raeq), external hazard index(Hex), internal hazard index(Hin) and representative of the gamma index(Iγg) are presented. The results obtainedwere below the internationally accepted safe limits. Therefore, the analyzed samples couldbe used in the local industries in the area as component raw materials and/or as buildingmaterials. Also, the mining activities of these minerals in the area have notsignificantly affected the natural radiation dose levels in the area, hence the resultingdose to the population is therefore considered generally low.

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Article
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2011

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