Assessment of Radiological Parameters in Selected Communities Close to A Major Oil and Gas Facility in Bayelsa State, South-South, Nigeria

Abstract

Background radiation in an environment differs in different places and are functions of the amount of naturally occurring radioactive materials presents in soils, air, and water. The possibility of the radiation level in communities sited so close and not too close to oil processing companies cannot be overruled. This is simply because there are possible links such as erosion, wind speed, work activities around the oil processing companies and oil spillage that may possibly link these communities to the activities in the oil processing companies. The background ionizing radiation levels of two adjacent communities near a major oil and gas facility in Bayelsa has been investigated. Ambient dose rates were measured in forty- four sampling points at using Radiation alert inspector survey meter. The measured ambient dose rates, the calculated absorbed dose rates, annual effective dose equivalent and excess lifetime cancer risks for Obunagha and Okolobiri ranged from {(0.010 – 0.028) mRh-1 with the mean 0.015 mRh-1 , (78−174) nGyh-1 with the mean 135.5 nGyh-1 ,(0.120 −0.373) mSvh-1 with the mean of 0.208 mSvh-1, (0.331−0.373)× } with a mean of 0.573 } and (0.007 – 0.034) mRh-1 with mean 0.018 mRh-1 , (60.9−295.8) nGyh-1 with the mean 155.1) nGyh-1 ,(0.093−0.453) mSvh-1 with the mean of 0.238 mSvh-1and (0.258−1.104)× } with mean 0.656× respectively. Measured and calculated radiological parameters are all greater than the world average. Conclusively, dwellers in these communities are exposed to ionizing radiation greater than the recommended safe limits which at long run may put them at health risks. Furthermore, a more extensive radiological studies is recommended for the two communities.