IJSR - International Journal of Scientific Research

A.A. Tyovenda; S.I. Ikpughul; T.J. Ayua; E. H. Aligba; I. A. Philip; T. Igbawua; S.I. Aondoakaa; R. T. Korna

Volume : VII, Issue : XI, November - 2018

Assessment of Radionuclides in Water, Sediment and Algae in River Benue at Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria

A. A. Tyovenda, S. I. Ikpughul, T. J. Ayua, E. H. Aligba, I. A. Philip, T. Igbawua, S. I. Aondoakaa, R. T. Korna

Abstract :

Radioactivity levels in River Benue at Jimeta–Yola have been assessed by means of gamma ray spectrometry using sodium Iodide detector. The average values of activity concentration of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were found to be 14.6±3.01Bq/kg, 47.0±4.03Bq/kg and 6714.7±487.34Bq/kg in sediments; 33.22±13.44Bq/kg, 25.48±2.54Bq/kg and 11256.99±865.44Bq/kg in Algae; 7.85±1.66Bq/l, 4.89±0.43Bq/l and 22.52±1.98Bq/l in water respectively. The average values of radium equivalent activity were 11.12Bq/l for water, 927.33Bq/kg for Algae and 587.9Bq/kg for sediment. The average value of representative gamma index were 0.08 for water, 7.92 for Algae and 4.97 for sediments. The average values of annual gonadal equivalent dose were 35.47mSv/y in water, 3717.21mSv/y in Algae and 2316.19mSv/y in sediments. The average values of external hazard index were 0.03 for water, 2.5 for Algae and 1.59 for sediment. The average values of internal hazard index were 0.05 for water, 2.59 for Algae and 1.6 for sediment. The average values of absorbed dose rate were 5.13nGy/h in water, 496.31nGy/h for Algae and 310.08nGy/h for sediment. The average values of excess lifetime cancer risk were 0.02×10^–3 for water, 2.13×10^–3for Algae and 1.33×10^–3 for sediments. The average values of annual effective dose equivalent (outdoor) were 6.29µSv/y for water, 608.67µSv/y for Algae and 380.29µSv/y for sediment. The average values of annual effective dose equivalent (indoor) were 25.17µSv/y for water, 2434.67µSv/y for Algae 1521.14µSv/y for sediment. The evaluation of radiation parameters has shown that, continuous usage of these samples will endanger the lives of humans by exposing them to various types of cancer and other ailments.