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Dose And Health Risk Assessment Due To Natural Radioactivity In Root and Tuber Crops From Selected Local Government Areas In Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria |
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PP: 129-134 |
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doi:10.18576/jrna/060206
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Author(s) |
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Fasanmi P. O,
Orosun M.M,
Olukotun S. F,
Isinkaye M. O.,
Gbenu Sejlo T.,
Tchokossa P.,
Adegbehingbe O.O,
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Abstract |
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| Among the several ways by which man is exposed to radiation, the transfer of radionuclides from soil to crops
consumed by humans is one of the prevalent pathways. Assessment of natural radioactivity in root and tubers crops
consumed in selected local government area in Ekiti State, South-western Nigeria has been carried out. The specific
activities of 40K, 238U, 232Th were determined using a 76 mm by 76 mm lead-shielded Sodium Iodide Detector doped with
Thallium (NaI(Tl)) located at the Center for Energy, Research and Development (CERD), Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife, Nigeria. To assess the effect of consumption of these food crops, health impact parameters such as the Annual
Effective Dose (AED) due to ingestion and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risks (ELCR) were determined. The activity
concentration of radionuclide in the samples investigated ranged from 128.85 ± 10.22 to 398.84 ± 31.23 with a mean value
of 275.98 ± 21.47 Bq kg-1 for 40K, from 6.67 ± 0.18 to 12.24 ± 0.27 with an average of 9.47 ± 0.20 Bq kg-1
for 238U and
from 7.26 ± 0.13 to 12.23 ± 0.21 Bq kg-1
for 232Th with 10.43 ± 0.19 Bq kg-1
as the mean value. The estimated AED varied
from 0.05 to 0.93 mSv yr-1 with a mean value of 0.60 mSv yr-1
. Values for ELCR ranged from 2 x 10-7
to 3.3 x 10-6 with
2.1 x 10-6
as the average value. The radioactivity levels, AED and ELCR were all within the limit set by UNSCEAR
(2000). Consumption of the root and tuber crops cultivated in the study area, therefore, poses no serious risk to the locals.
However, regular radiological monitoring of the food crops cultivated in the area is recommended. |
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