Title: Determinations of soil radioactivity, indoor radon concentration levels and their correlation in Oke-Ogun area, Southwestern Nigeria

Authors: Augustine Kolapo Ademola; Rachel I. Obed

Addresses: Physical Sciences Department, Bells University of Technology, PMB 1065, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria ' Department of Physics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract: Indoor radon concentration measurements in 116 rooms and gamma activity measurements in the soil samples around the rooms were carried out in Oke-Ogun area (Southwestern, Nigeria). The mean activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²³²Th, and ²³⁸U in the soil were 3±5, 25±7 and 212±99 Bqkg⁻¹, respectively. The mean absorbed dose rate (D) and the effective dose estimated were 44±8 nGy h⁻¹ and 45±8 μSv y⁻¹, respectively. Radon concentrations in the rooms varied from 148 Bqm⁻³ to 627 Bqm⁻³ with mean of 282±99 Bqm⁻³. The estimated mean annual effective dose is 7±2 mSv y⁻¹. It is therefore advisable for the inhabitants of the study area to ventilate their houses regularly, to reduce the possible risk of contracting lung cancer. Radon concentration in the rooms surveyed show a good correlation (R² = 0.702) with ²³⁸U/²²⁶Ra activity in soil samples.

Keywords: radionuclides; radon concentration; Oke-Ogun; Cr-39 detectors; absorbed dose; annual effective dose; hazard index; dwellings; Iseyin; Okeho; low radiation; soil radioactivity; indoor radon; Nigeria; ventilation; lung cancer.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLR.2016.081453

International Journal of Low Radiation, 2016 Vol.10 No.3, pp.210 - 221

Received: 20 Jul 2015
Accepted: 20 Dec 2015
Published online: 09 Jan 2017 *

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