Abstract
The radionuclide contents in waste products and physico-chemical characterization of effluent samples from some selected industries in the city of Lagos were carried out. The radioactivity concentration levels due to 40 K, 226 Ra and 228 Th in the solid wastes were determined using gamma-ray spectrometry while physico-chemical determination of parameters were based on standard methods of measurements. The average radioactivity levels obtained was between 104 ± 14 Bq kg -1 and 1276 ± 31 Bq kg -1 for 40 K, 86 ± 18 Bq kg -1 and 122 ± 23 Bq kg -1 for 226 Ra and while for 228 Th it ranged between 14 ± 2 Bq kg -1 and 73 ± 10 Bq kg -1 . No artificial radioactive elements were detected in any of the samples. The average outdoor effective dose rate due to gamma exposure from these waste materials in the city was calculated as 0.12 mSv y -1 . This is far less than 1 mSv y -1 recommended limit for the member of the public by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). The pH of the effluent samples was slightly alkaline, while the electrical conductivity ranged between 275 and 455 µS cm -1 and total suspended solids ranged from 104 to 5616 mg l -1 . All these ranges and those of biochemical and chemical oxygen demand values were all higher than the prescribed limits. Presence of heavy metals in the effluent samples was however lower than prescribed with the exception of iron.
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