ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY LEVELS AND SOME METALS FROM TERMITE MOUNDS WITHIN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS AND ITS ENVIRONS
ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY LEVELS AND SOME METALS FROM TERMITE MOUNDS WITHIN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS AND ITS ENVIRONS
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Date
2019-06
Authors
ELLAH, Moses Adah
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Abstract
This study assessed the Natural radioactivity levels and some metals from termite mounds samples within Ahmadu Bello University Main Campus and its Environs. Samples were collected from thirteen different termite mounds in the study area and analyzed after preparation. An in-situ measurement of gamma radiation dose rate was carried out using Rados survey meter, while the activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra, 232Th, and levels of some metals were carried out using gamma ray spectrometer with NaI(Tl) detector, and Atomic Absorption spectrometry techniques respectively. The measured value of gamma radiation dose rate ranged from 28.46 nGy/hr to 153.15 nGy/hr with a mean value of 103.70 nGy/hr which was higher than the value obtained from control sample (53.79 nGy/hr) and world‟s average (59nGy/hr). The measured activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th ranged from 174.50 ± 6.38 Bq/kg to 898.96 ± 11.15 Bq/kg, 21.17 ± 6.11 Bq/kg to 92.26 ± 8.47 Bq/kg, and 29.80 ± 1.10 Bq/kg to 161.08 ± 3.42 Bq/kg respectively. The average values of the activity concentrations (434.84 ± 8.53 Bq/kg, 58.59 ± 6.32 Bq/kg, 99.15 ± 6.32 Bq/kg) were found to be higher than the values obtained from the control sample (110.25 ± 4.88 Bq/kg, 12.30 ± 6.51 Bq/kg, 70.42 ± 1.61 Bq/kg), and world‟s average (420 Bq/kg, 33 Bq/kg, 45 Bq/kg) recommended. The mean outdoor annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) was calculated to be 0.13 mSv/yr, which is higher than 0.06 mSv/yr obtained from the control sample and below 1mSv/yr recommended for the public. The mean value for the excess life-time cancer risk (ELCR) was found to be 0.45 10-3, which is slightly higher than the value obtained from the control sample (0.21 10-3) and 0.29 10-3 recommended. The result from analysis of Ca, Fe, Mg, Zn showed that their average concentrations were found to be 315.88 ± 0.0010 ppm, 29378.2 ± 0.0009 ppm, 1208.4 ± 0.0009 ppm, and 20.55 ± 0.0009 ppm respectively. The mean contamination factors resulting from the levels of metals measured were found to be 0.017, 0.617, 0.12 and 0.108 respectively. The pollution load indices (PLI) ranged from 0.02 to 0.17 with mean value of 0.108. These results show that termite mounds can enhance environmental background radiation, but cannot constitute immediate radiological effects to the people in the study area. Although, the chances of developing radiological health effects over a lifetime from their radiation contributions may be significant. These results observed can be attributed to the geology of the study area which mainly consists of Granite, gneiss and schist.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTERS DEGREE IN
RADIATION BIOPHYSICS
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS,
FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
Keywords
ASSESSMENT,, NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY LEVELS,, SOME METALS,, TERMITE MOUNDS,, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,