RADIOLOGICAL AND ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS KAOLIN IN KANKARAKATSINA STATE, NIGERIA
RADIOLOGICAL AND ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS KAOLIN IN KANKARAKATSINA STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2018-10
Authors
JOHNSON, Pius Edise
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Abstract
This study assesses the concentration of 238U, 232Th and 40K, in-site background radiation, radiological implications and elemental constituents of Kaolin mined from KankaraKatsina State. Ten (10) samples were collected randomly from the kankara kaolin mining sites and the background radiation dose was measured using a portable radiation survey meter. The samples were divided into two for gamma spectrometry analyses and elemental analyses. The samples for gamma spectrometry analysis were prepared and analyzed using NaI(TI) detector at Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University. The samples for elemental analysis were prepared and analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) at Multi-Purpose Laboratory, Ahmadu Bello University. The range of activity concentration of U, Th and 0K in Kaolin samples from the study areas varies from 12.11 – 76.96 Bq/kg, 24.02 – 96.72 Bq/kg and 126.13 – 1038.93 Bq/kg with mean values of 31.63 Bq/kg, 58.06 Bq/kg and 388.64 Bq/kg respectively. The mean value of gamma radiation dose rate measured in Kankara is 66.97 nGy/h which is 7.97 nGy/h more than the world average, 59 nGy/h as stated by UNSCEAR. The average annual dose from such gamma radiation dose rate is 110.07μSv/y; the excess lifetime cancer risk was determined to be 0.39x10-3 which is more than the world average value of 0.29x10-3. The heavy metals composition detected were below the world average. In view of these, it is concluded that the workers (miners) at the samples mining sites are not safe.
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A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POST- GRADUATE STUDIES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR FOR THE AWARD OF A MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NUCLEAR PHYSICS DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA NIGERIA
Keywords
RADIOLOGICAL,, ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS,, KAOLIN,, KANKARA,, KATSINA STATE,, NIGERIA,