DETERMINATION OF CONCENTRATION OF NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIONUCLIDES AND OTHER ELEMENTS IN NASARAWA MUNICIPALITY/MINING AREAS

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Date
2000-09
Authors
DANSUMA, Said Audu
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Abstract
Soil and water samples were collected from two principal areas within Nasarawa municipality at two different locations; Ung. Habibu and Tama. All the sample materials were counted in the laboratory by Nal (TI) (7.5cm by 7.5cm) detector for a period of two hours at 1000V. The efficiency of the detector was determined by using standard point resources. Later on, this efficiency was used in the calculation of the activity of each of the radionuclide present in the sample. Total mean specific activity of the radionuclide in the soil ranges from 9.1Bq/kg to 34.2Bq/kg and the specific activity of radionuclide present in water samples ranges from 0.0045 to 0.235 Bq/cm3. K, U and Th concentration in soil ranges from 0.11 - 0.82%,0.043 - 4.32ppm and 0.33 - 6.66pprn respectively. Potassium concentration in water (well-water) falls between 0.23% to 1.24% and that of stream within the town is 0.231%). Total means dose rate of the soil samples calculated is 68.34 xlO" 4mSv/y which is below the dose limit for occupational and non-occupational workers in radiation fields. The 1CRP does limit is 5mSv/y and 50mSv/y for non-occupational and occupational workers respectively. Energy Dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) was used to determine concentration either in % or ppm of major, minor and trace elements in the soil. Ten elements were identified and their range of concentration are Ti (0.234 - 0.748%), Mn (O.0239 - 0.093%), Fe (0.392 -6.55%), Zn (0.34ppm - 0.759ppm), Rb v/ (<0.107ppm - 0.0297%), Sr (0.103ppm - 0.92ppm), Th (<0.122ppm - 0.325ppm), Y (<0.220ppm - 0.396ppm), Zr (0.0163ppm to 0.21 lppm) and Nb (<6.3ppm - 9.99ppm). From the results obtained that is the activity of the soil and water one can say that Nasarawa Municipality is not an area with high natural radioactivity. In addition to that, environmental impact of mining activities has not introduced high concentration of toxic elements into the environment.
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A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN RADIATION BIOPHYSICS DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, NIGERIA. SEPTEMBER, 2000
Keywords
DETERMINATION OF CONCENTRATION,, NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIONUCLIDES,, OTHER ELEMENTS,, NASARAWA MUNICIPALITY,, MINING AREAS
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