| Popis: |
Mining activities is one of the causals of water pollution in recent times that could potentiate a great risk to human who depends on these water sources for domestic uses in Adudu, Abuni and Kanje mining communities of Nasarawa State. This research aimed to determine the quantity of radionuclides viz 238U, 232Th and 40K in surface and groundwater samples of these communities. The concentrations of the radionuclides were measured using Gamma-ray spectroscopy and the radiological hazard indices such as Radium Equivalent (Raeq), Dose Rate (DR), Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE), Hazard Index (Hi), Representative Radioactivity (Iy) and Excessive Life Cancer Risk (ELCR) were evaluated and used to analyze the data. 238U was found in 12 out of the 27 analyzed water samples with their concentrations within the WHO standard. The concentration of 232Th found in the sampled water sources were higher than the recommended limit except for samples B5 and S2. However, 40K was found in most water samples analyzed although the concentration was below the authorized standard. The evaluated radiological health hazard parameters (Raeq, DR, AEDE, AEDE, HI, Iy and ELCR) were generally below world average and WHO standard values for domestic water. Thus, this study showed that the concentrations of radionuclides in these sources of water pose no radiological health risk to the community dwellers and the presence of the radionuclides are due to the geologic and mineral composition of the study area rather than mining activities. |
