Examining the Radiological Health Risks Associated with Water Sourced from the Ogwashi-Uku Earth Dam in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria
Ijabor Blessing Okeoghene *
Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria.
Nwabuoku Augustine Onyema
Dennis Osadebay Univesity, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
Oduah Emeka Charles
Dennis Osadebay Univesity, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
Oduje Favour
Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Given the increased human activities and population growth in Ogwashi-Uku, there is a possibility of potential contamination of the water in the dam with elevated levels of alpha and beta radiation. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the radiological health risks associated with water obtained from the Ogwashi-Uku Earth dam by analyzing the concentrations of gross alpha and gross beta activity in the water. The results indicate that the measured activity concentrations of gross alpha and gross beta in the water samples are below the permissible limits of 0.1 Bq/l and 1.0 Bq/l respectively. Additionally, the average annual effective dose equivalent calculated for all the water samples is lower than the recommended dose limit of 0.1 mSv for radionuclides in water. These findings suggest that the assessed life cancer risk associated with the water consumption is low, indicating that the water from the Ogwashi-Uku Earth dam is safe for consumption.
Keywords: Gross alpha, gross beta, radioactivity, water, effective dose, Delta State