Investigating Background Ionizing Radiation in some selected locations in Agbor Metropolis.

Abstract

The level of background indoor and outdoor ionizing radiation doses were measured in 15 different locations in Agbor, Delta State of Nigeria, with the aid of an inspector alert nuclear radiation meter. The recorded indoor ionizing radiation ranged from 0.114 µSv/hr to 0.271 µSv/hr with a mean value of 0.189 ± 0.04 µSv/hr. DDPA peaked at 0.271± 0.08 µSv/hr. Outdoor radiation levels on the other hand ranged from 0.110 µSv/hr to 0.256 µSv/hr with a mean value of 1.80 ± 0.05 µSv/hr. Model laboratory recorded the highest outdoor radiation dose value of 0.256 ± 0.03 µSv/hr. These values were all below the allowable limit set by UNSCEAR. Furthermore, the ambient BIR levels obtained in all the locations studied were equally below the ambient BIR allowable limit of 0.13 mR/h. The calculated annual effective dose rates value E0 (indoor) for the locations studied were variable, while the annual effective dose rate E1 (outdoor) obtained for all the locations studied were less than the standard limit of 1.00 mSv/yr, making the latter locations to be radiological safe for human habitation without constituting notable health hazards.