Investigation of the Gross Alpha and Beta Activity Concentrations of Hand Dug Well Water from Dutsin-Ma Local Government, Katsina State – Nigeria

Abstract

Water samples from available hand dug wells within Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State, Nigeria have been analyzed for gross Alpha and Beta using an automated gas-flow-proportional counter (Eurisys Measure- IN20) which is an eight channel counter. The activity concentrations of both alpha and beta were determined from the twenty two samples collected from the different locations except for the alpha activity concentration of Wakaji which was below detection limit of the equipment. We found that only wells of seven locations namely Kuki A (Doro 2), Karofi B2, Karofi A2, Garangamawa, Kagara, Bagagadi 1 and Darawa are safe for consumption since their activity concentrations are within the limit set by World Health Organization (WHO, 2006), however, that of Yan Ruma (α = 0.4447±0.0387 Bq/L,  β = 28.8406±1.9578 Bq/L) in particular is highly enrich in both gross alpha and beta with the value of the beta emitter far above the recommended value. It is highly recommended that this well be discarded as this area is highly expose to elevated external radioactivity. The statistical analysis carried out showed that there is a strong positive correlation (0.74) between the gross alpha and beta activity concentration. Also the t-test of 20.9% clearly shows that there is no difference between the gross alpha and beta activity concentrations.

Keywords: Radionuclides, Gross Alpha and Beta, gas-flow-proportional counter, groundwater