Abstract
The concentrations of natural radionuclides in abattoir wastes and sediments of streams and rivers around selected abattoirs in Southwestern Nigeria have been measured using gamma-ray spectrometry. In abattoir wastes, the activity concentrations obtained in cow-dung samples are higher than those obtained in blood and bone ash samples. For sediment, the mean activity concentration of 40K, 238U and 232Th obtained is 290.04 ± 156.84, 22.02 ± 4.14 and 50.42 ± 18.90 Bq kg−1, respectively. The absorbed gamma-indoor dose rates and other radiological health indices were calculated in order to assess the radiological hazards associated with the use of the sediments in construction of dwellings. The values obtained were less than the recommended safe and criterion limits by UNSCEAR. It is sufficient to say therefore that sediments from the respective rivers and streams around the abattoir sites are safe and can be used for construction of buildings without undue radiological health concerns.
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