4. Akpolile F.A and Ugbede F.O. (2019) Natural radioactivity study and radiological risk assessment in surface water and sediments from Tuomo River in Burutu, Delta State Nigeria. Journal of Nigerian Association of Mathematical Physics (J. NAMP). 50: 267–274

Abstract

The specific activity concentrations of natural radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K in surface water and sediments samples collected from Tuomo river Burutu, Delta State, Nigeria have been determined using gamma spectrometry NaI(TI) detector. The mean concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K in the water samples ranged from 10.80±1.57-19.87±1.94 Bq.L-1, 6.47±2.58-41.52±9.67 Bq.L-1 and 40.7±3.47-89.50±5.07 Bq.L-1 respectively and 18.69±1.88−77.99±4.35 Bqkg−1, 59.67±11.85−149.03±23.97 Bqkg−1 and 580.19±3.89−873.04±4.86 Bqkg−1 respectively in the sediment samples. The mean values were found to be above their respective world average values. Risk assessment was made to ascertain the possible radiological effects associated with the use of the water and sediment. The results revealed that effective doses to adults and children populations due to ingestion from drinking of the water are above World Health Organization recommended safe limits for drinking water and this could present a low dose radiological risk of longer effects to human health. The radiological hazards assessment for the sediment samples are in tandem with recommended safe limits. Therefore, the use of the river sediment for purposes of building and other human needs is generally of negligible radiological concern for human health.