Determination of Radiological Hazards Associated with the use of Oba-Ile River Sediments as Building Material

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the radioactivity level in the sediment samples collected from Oba-Ile River, Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria and evaluate the radiological hazards associated with the use of the river sediments as building material. Twenty four (24) sediment samples were obtained along three different points within the River for a period of eight months. The activity concentration of 40K in the sediment sample ranged from 273.36 ± 5.41 Bqkg-1 to 1662.41± 28.19 Bqkg-1with an average concentration 892.22 ± 14.66 Bqkg-1. The values of 232Th in the sediment samples ranged between 27.22 ± 5.12 Bqkg-1 to 186.14 ± 6.22 Bqkg-1 with an average concentration 87.95 ± 7.91 Bqkg-1. The values of 238U ranged from 12.61 ± 2.01 Bqkg-1 to 241.12 ± 5.91 Bqkg-1 with an average 62.83 ± 3.18 Bqkg-1. The radiological hazards due to natural radionuclides content, such as absorbed dose rate (DR), annual effective dose rate (AEDE),excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR), internal radiation hazard (Hin) and external radiation hazard (Hex) in the sediment samples were calculated. The calculated radiological parameters were compared with recommended safety limits and internationally approved values.