Title: Assessment of the levels of radiation hazard indices in auto-mechanic workshops in Calabar City of Cross River State, Nigeria

Authors: Emmanuel O. Esien-umo; Ekaete V. Ukpong; Samson O. Paulinus; Bassey E. Archibong; Blessing S. Ibe; Emmanuel Akwilam; Samuel O. Inyang; Nneoyi O. Egbe

Addresses: Department of Radiography and Radiological Science, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria ' Department of Radiography and Radiological Science, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria ' Department of Radiography and Radiological Science, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria ' Department of Radiography and Radiological Science, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria ' Department of Radiography and Radiological Science, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria ' Department of Radiography and Radiological Science, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria ' Department of Physics, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria ' Department of Radiography and Radiological Science, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract: This study assessed the radiation hazard indices inside selected Auto-Mechanic Workshops (AMWs) in Calabar South Local Government Area (LGA) of Calabar City. The mean equivalent dose rate (HT) reading in micro-sievert per hour (µSv/hr) obtained from measurements taken at four different sections inside the 33 selected AMWs were used to calculate the absorbed dose rate (D₀), annual equivalent dose rate (HT_ann), annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) and the effective dose to the organs and tissues (D_organ) in the AMWs. Results showed that the mean HT (0.132 µSv/hr), mean D₀ (0.132 µGy/hr) and mean ELCR (0.565 × 10⁻³) were higher than the recommended level for outdoor exposure thereby revealing a radiation contaminated environment inside the AMWs with a possibility of long-term health hazard from accumulated radiation doses, if these workers spent their working lifetime (60 hours weekly) in these workshops and their surroundings.

Keywords: auto-mechanic workshops; radiation hazard; hazard indices.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLR.2025.154402

International Journal of Low Radiation, 2025 Vol.12 No.1, pp.29 - 39

Received: 28 Nov 2023
Accepted: 02 Dec 2024
Published online: 26 Jun 2026 *

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