Physical Science International Journal

Evaluation of specific activity concentration of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th  and  ⁴⁰K  in soil and rice grains from solid mineral mining sites in Ikwo  area of Ebonyi state was carried out using a Digilert-200 Radiation Meter. The radiological impact of the radionuclides was calculated. The average value concentrations of radionuclides obtained were 170.53, 9.26 and 8.81 (in Bq.Kg^-1) for ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U and ²³²Th respectively in soil samples and 113.77, 5.86 and 7.08 (in Bq.Kg^-1) for ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U and ²³²Th respectively in rice grain. These values are below the world permissive value of 400, 35 and 30(in Bq.Kg^-1) respectively. All the health risk parameters calculated in soil and rice were below world permissive values. For the radionuclides in rice samples, the average annual committed effective doses(in mSvy^-1) for ages (<1 year), (1 – 7 years), (7 – 12 years), (12 – 17 years) and (>17 years) are 0.37, 0.05, 0.04, 0.03, 0.02 respectively. These results are less than the world permissive value of 1.00 mSvy^-1. Generally, the study shows that the rice consumption was relatively safe radiologically with little contamination which could be attributed to human activities but there is tendency for long term health hazards in future such as the cancer due to doses accumulation. It is recommended that the various human activities that raise the activity concentration in soil in Ikwo mining area that should be reduced. The activity concentration of radionuclides level in the area should be periodically assessed.