Title: Natural radioactivity in farm soils and major food crops grown in Ayetoro, Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria

Authors: Shamsideen Kunle Alausa; Omotomilola Oloye Omotosho

Addresses: Department of Physics, Radiation and Health Research Group, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria ' Department of Physics, Radiation and Health Research Group, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract: Radioactivity data in food and farm soil in sedimentary rocky areas like Ayetoro, Nigeria, are scarce. Maize, cassava and the underneath soil samples were collected from Ayetoro. The 40K, 226Ra and 232Th activity concentrations in the samples were measured with a gamma ray spectrometer. The soil-to-food crop transfer factors, ingestion effective dose rates due to the crops and the outdoor effective dose rates due to soils were evaluated. The mean 40K, 226Ra and 232Th activity concentrations in maize were 160.3 ± 66.5 Bqkg−1, 18.1 ± 7.1 Bqkg−1 and 15.0 ± 8.0 Bqkg−1 respectively and the soils were 671.5 ± 352.9 Bqkg−1, 66.8 ± 25.3 Bqkg−1 and 62.1 ± 27.9 Bqkg−1 for 40K, 226Ra and 232Th respectively. The mean activity concentrations in cassava were 294.6 ± 137.2 Bqkg−1, 28.6 ± 14.9 Bqkg−1 and 18.2 ± 13.0 Bqkg−1 for 40K, 226Ra and 232Th respectively and the soils were 679.5 ± 281.1 Bqkg−1, 66.8 ± 32.7 Bqkg−1 and 49.7 ± 46.9 Bqkg−1 for 40K, 226Ra and 232Th respectively. The results indicated that the activity concentrations, ingestion effective dose and outdoor effective dose are low and no serious radiological health impact is expected.

Keywords: natural radioactivity; farm soils; food crops; health impact; sedimentary rocks; gamma-ray; activity concentration; transfer factor; effective dose; Abeokuta formation; Ayetoro; Nigeria.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLR.2017.087689

International Journal of Low Radiation, 2017 Vol.10 No.4, pp.285 - 303

Received: 04 Feb 2017
Accepted: 16 Jul 2017

Published online: 30 Oct 2017 *

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