Assessment of Natural Radionuclides and Associated Radiological Health Hazards in Soils around Palm Oil Processing Mills, Delta State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajise.v5i2.7356Keywords:
Clark Value, Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk, Fly Ash, Hazard Indices, Palm-oil Processing Mill EffluentAbstract
An assessment was carried out in soils of communities that host palm-oil and palm-kernel oil production facilities to ascertain whether their operations have elevated the activity concentrations of the 238U, 232Th and 40K and to examine if the associated radiological hazard indices are within acceptable safety limits set by international regulatory professional bodies on radiological protection. Soil samples was collected for the study and were measured by gamma ray spectrometry using NaI[TI] detector. The mean activity concentration for soil samples was 38.35±2.44Bq/kg, 31.00±2.52Bq/kg and 525.37±2.92Bq/kg respectively for 238U, 232Th and 40K. The values for 238U and 40K are above the world average reference mean of 33Bq/kg for 238U and 420Bq/kg for 40K. 232Th values were lower than the world average reference mean of 45Bq/kg. Values of absorbed dose rates in soils at Ute-Ogbeje and Mbiri communities were higher than the permissible safety standard of 59ηGy/h while the mean value of excess lifetime cancer risk (0.99mSv/y) was above the international safety limit of 0.29mSv/y. The mean values of radiological hazard indices are all below the international permissible safety standards. Thus, no radiological health risk from soil gamma exposure. The mean Clark values indicated soils of uranium enrichment composing more of MAFIC (mg and Fe) minerals than FELSIC (feldspar and silica). However, the high values of 238U, 40K, absorbed dose rates, excess lifetime cancer risk and outdoor annual effective dose equivalent for some communities implies a statistically elevated cancer probability for the inhabitants. Intervention, monitoring, and regulatory review are recommended.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Thompson Chinedum Irunkwor, Dandy Dumbiri Nmorsi, Chuks Okobia2, Nkonyeasua Abanjo, Chinyere Ngozika Eze, Atalor Bright, Monday Edobor, Pascal Ifeanyichukwu Maduaka
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