Radionuclide Concentration and Lifetime Cancer Risk Due to Gamma Radioactivity from Quarry Stone Aggregates in Jos and Its Environs, North Central Nigeria

Abiye Olatunji Solomon, Nestor Monday Chagok, Alexander Sunday Chup, Ifeoma Aquila Ekeleme, Joseph Azi Bulus, Ambura Fube Ajol, Lukman Olaleke Adigun

Abstract


Naturally occurring radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K present in crushed stone aggregates from seven (7) quarries in Jos and its environs were measured using Gamma Ray Spectrometer. This is mainly for the purpose of evaluating the radiation health hazard indices and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) that may arise due to the use of such crushed stones for building construction. Mean concentration of 238U, 232Th and 40K from the quarries were found to be 4.0-15.1 ppm, 25.7-51.7 ppm, and 3.9%-4.4%, while their activity concentration range from 49.5-186.5 Bqkg-1for 238U, 104.3-209.9 Bqkg-1 for 232Th, and 1158.1-1471.1 Bqkg-1for 40K respectively. Absorbed dose in air (149.85–264.35 nGy h−1), annual effective dose equivalents for internal and external (0.69-1.22 mSv y−1and 0.23-0.41 mSv y−1), hazard indices (1.00-2.05 indoor, and 0.87-1.53 outdoor), and radium equivalent activity (317.51-573.11 Bqkg-1) were calculated. These values are higher than the world's averages. Total excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) from the quarries was found to be 3.21×10−3 - 5.68 ×10−3 with an average of 4.45x10−3. This is 15.34 times higher than the world average of 0.29x10-3 below which negligible risk of developing cancer has been stated. Crushed stones from quarries in Jos and its environs therefore may have contributed significantly to cancer risks in this area.

Keywords: Quarry; Crushed Stones; Uranium; Thorium; Potassium; Activity Concentration; Hazard Indices; Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk; Jos Environs..


Full Text: PDF
Download the IISTE publication guideline!

To list your conference here. Please contact the administrator of this platform.

Paper submission email: JEES@iiste.org

ISSN (Paper)2224-3216 ISSN (Online)2225-0948

Please add our address "contact@iiste.org" into your email contact list.

This journal follows ISO 9001 management standard and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Copyright © www.iiste.org