Radiological Hazard Indices in Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Nasarawa State.

Abstract

An assessment of radiological hazard indices from background radiation exposure was carried out in FULafia using a Mobile GPS for locational coordinates and a Ludlum radiation meter. Holding the survey meter 1 m above the ground level in the exposure mode, a total of 71 sample points comprising of indoor and outdoor locations in Takeoff site (TS) and permanent site (PS) of the University was used for exposure measurement. Result showed that the indoor and outdoor mean absorbed dose is (136.51±7.46) nGyh^-1 and (131.26 ± 2.09) nGyh^-1 respectively. The total indoor and outdoor average values for annual effective absorbed dose equivalent (AEDE), Excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) and AEDE to organ was found to be (0.81 ± 0.02) mSvy^-1, (2.84 ± 0.07) x 10^-3, and (0.35 ± 0.01) mSvy^-1. These values when compared with UNSCEAR limit of radiological indices for the general public where higher but lower when compared with ICRP limit of 1 mSvy^-1 thus; there is no health concern due to the exposure from background ionizing radiation in FULafia, Nasarawa state.

Key words: Ionizing radiation, Occupancy factor, Cancer risk factor, Conversion coefficient.

DOI: 10.7176/APTA/83-10

Publication date: November 30^th 2020