Background Gamma Radiation in Grazing Patch Lands and Earthen Fish Ponds in Ota, Nigeria

Abstract

The pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) concerning sound health and well being is being given much attention in many countries. This study investigates the safety of inhabited environments in relation to background gamma radiation levels linked to naturally occurring radionuclides (NORs). The research focuses on the Iju-Gas-Pipeline area, a significant settlement within the Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area, comprising both residential and commercial zones. Radioactivity levels were measured in-situ around a grazing land and an earthen fishpond located in the Iju-Gas-Pipeline grassland and valley, respectively. The impact of natural radionuclides on the area was assessed by measuring ambient gamma dose rates and specific activities of radioelements using a mobile RS-125 gamma spectrometer made by Radio Solution Inc. Evaluations of radiological health risk indices were done using the specific activities of the NORs. For the grazing land, background gamma dose rates ranged from 13.94 to 17.92 nGy/h, with an average of 15.40 nGy/h. Specific activities of NORs 40K, 238U, with 232Th varied from 0.0 to 63.20, 22.14 to 34.44, and 1.23 to 6.81 Bq/kg, respectively, yielding average values of 47.40, 27.95, and 4.62 Bq/kg. In contrast, the earthen fishpond exhibited ambient gamma dose rates from 2.54 to 10.80 nGy/h, averaging 7.54 nGy/h, with activity concentrations of 40K, 238U, with 232Th averaging 0.00, 15.17, and 2.34 Bq/kg, respectively. All measured background gamma dose rates and average activity concentrations of NORs were much below their respective threshold limits: 59.00 nGy/h; 420.00, 33.00 and 45.00 Bq/kg. Moreover, the evaluated means of the seven radiological hazard indices considered were significantly lower than their associated permissible levels: 370 Bq/kg, 1, 1, 59.00 and 84.00 nGy/h, 1 and 0.29. Therefore, this study concludes that the Iju-Gas-Pipeline area is radiologically safe.