Title: Radiometric and elemental assessment of groundwater from Ifako-Ijaye area in Lagos, Southwestern Nigeria

Authors: Shamsideen Kunle Alausa; Bashiru O. Rabiu; Niyi Olaonipekun Adebisi; Adeola Ahmed Ibikunle; Abass Ishola Taiwo; Oseyemi Omowunmi Olubomehin

Addresses: Department of Physics, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun, Nigeria ' Department of Physics, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun, Nigeria ' Earth Sciences Department, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun, Nigeria ' Chemical Sciences Department, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun, Nigeria ' Mathematical Sciences Department, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun, Nigeria ' Chemical Sciences Department, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun, Nigeria

Abstract: Twenty borehole (BH) and 15 hand-dug wells (HD) water samples were collected from Ifako-Ijaiye for this study. The samples were analysed using NaI (TI) detector for radioactivity and BUCK200 AAS for elemental concentrations. The Effective Dose Rates (EDR) and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risks (ELCR) were calculated from activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U and ²³²Th. The activity and elemental concentrations were statistically correlated. The mean activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U and ²³²Th in the BH water were 8.77±8.40 Bq/L, 1.03±0.19 Bq/L and 0.93±0.15 Bq/L, respectively; and 10.12±0.07 Bq/L, 0.94±0.34 Bq/L and 0.89±0.10 Bq/L, respectively in the HD water. The EDR and ELCR in the study were higher in the infant than either crèche or adult. The elemental concentrations in BH water were higher than the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended limits. The ELCR in the study is higher than the USEPA limit; therefore, drinking untreated water from the area should be discouraged.

Keywords: radiometric assessment; groundwater samples; natural radionuclides; activity concentrations; elemental concentrations; effective dose; cancer risk; Ifako-Ijaye; Lagos; Nigeria.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLR.2020.113533

International Journal of Low Radiation, 2020 Vol.11 No.3/4, pp.227 - 243

Received: 02 Jan 2020
Accepted: 13 Jul 2020
Published online: 10 Mar 2021 *

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