Radiation dose risk variability and its implication in industrial and mining regions, NW Nigeria

Abstract EN

The study area in the southern part of Kebbi State, Northwestern Nigeria, has witnessed intense mining activities and upscale industrialization in recent years.

these events have necessitated deeper and insightful studies into radiological hazard evaluation to mitigate associated adverse consequences and enforce environmental protective measures.

a total of45 sampled locations each were taken for industrial and mining sites in Northwestern Nigeria to determine the concentration of potassium-40, thorium-232 and uranium-238 radionuclides as applied to radiological hazard analysis.

the mean value of the absorbed dose in the industrial site was 90 nGy/h, whereas the mining site recorded a mean value of 210 nGy/h.

Other radiological indices such as radium equivalent factor, external risk assessment, internal index and representative gamma index recorded mean values of 187.68, 0.507, 0.547 and0.768 respectively, whereas the same hazard indices presented higher values of 412.58, 1.114, 1.231 and 1.675 respectively in the mining site.

the variability studies showed that the dose risk ratio of the industrial region to the mining region is 1:2.

the mining site presented radiological hazard indices higher than the acceptable global threshold, hence should be classified as a restricted zone to forestall health-related crises which may manifest among local dwellers.