Assessment of Indoor and Soil-Gas Radon Concentration of a Quarry Site in Eiyekorin, Kwara State
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62292/njtep.v2i2.2024.43Keywords:
Quarry, radon, offices, RAD 7, Absorbed doseAbstract
The toxic health effect of human exposure to radon gas which is radioactive in nature has attracted extensive research attention worldwide. Since direct experiments on the effect of earthquakes on radon release are difficult to conduct, a possible alternative is to use man-made explosions as an earthquake surrogate and investigate the corresponding effect on radon concentration. This study aims at investigating the soil-gas radon concentration in an active quarry site and areas outside the quarry, and the infiltration of the gas into the indoor environment was measured in order to access the occupational exposure risk. Soil gas radon concentration was taken at 30 random locations within the quarry and areas outside the quarry using RAD7, likewise 10 indoor radon gas in offices and homes were measured using an active radon detector manufactured by Durridge Incorporation in USA and comparative analysis of the difference between the two locations were done. The mean of the soil-gas radon concentration in the quarry site is 24968.84 ± 6913.204Bq/m3 while that of outside the quarry is 9664.67 ± 4992.86 Bq/m3. The result shows higher values of radon-gas concentration in the quarry site compared with area outside the quarry and when compared to the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP) suggested value of radon concentration in soil and sediment, which is in the range of 0.4 to 40 KBqm-3, result shows that most location within the study area are higher than these limits. Also, the radon in air indoor and outdoor was taken at the offices located within the quarry and occupational exposure risk was carried out. The average of radon in air indoor and outdoor was found to be 31.12 Bqm–3 and 10.12 Bqm–3 respectively with higher values found indoor. However, the values are found to be below the recommended value of 300 Bq/m3 by ICRP publication for homes and workplaces.
References
Adewoyin, O., Maxwell, O., Akinwumi, S., Adagunodo, T., Embong, Z., & Saeed, M. (2022). Estimation of activity concentrations of radionuclides and their hazard indices in coastal plain sand region of Ogun state. Scientific reports, 12(1), 2108. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-006064-3
Ajayi, O., & Olubi, O. (2016). Investigation of indoor radon levels in some dwellings of Southwestern Nigeria. Environmental Forensics, 17(4), 275-281. DOI: 10.1080/15275922.2016.1230909
Al-Hamidawi, A. A. A., & Husain, A. A. (2016). Radiation hazards due to radon concentrations in dwellings of Kufa Technical Institute,‘Iraq’. Phys Int, 7(1), 28-34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/pisp.2016.28.34
Amin, S., Al-Obiady, A., & Alwan, A. (2017). Radon level measurements in soil and sediments at oil field area and its impact on the environment. Engineering and Technology Journal, 35(1B), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.30684/etj.35.1B.1
Azhdarpoor, A., Hoseini, M., Shahsavani, S., Shamsedini, N., & Gharehchahi, E. (2021). Assessment of excess lifetime cancer risk and risk of lung cancer due to exposure to radon in a middle eastern city in Iran. Radiation Medicine and Protection, 2(03), 112-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmp.2021.07.002
Chen, Z., Li, Y., Liu, Z., Wang, J., Zhou, X., & Du, J. (2018). Radon emission from soil gases in the active fault zones in the Capital of China and its environmental effects. Scientific reports, 8(1), 16772. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35262-1
Council, N. R. (1999). Evaluation of Guidelines for Exposures to Technologically enhanced Naturally occurring radioactive materials. DOI: 10.17226/6360
Echeweozo, E., & Ugbede, F. (2020). Assessment of background ionizing radiation dose levels in quarry sites located in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 24(10), 1821-1826. DOI: 10.4314/jasem.v24i10.17
Francisca, D. D., Iramina, W. S., Ayres da Silva, A. L. M., & de Tomi, G. (2023). New Evaluation Method of Exposure to Radon Gas in Mining Environments. Minerals, 13(7), 897. https://doi.org/10.3390/min13070897
Gbenu, S., Oladejo, O., Alayande, O., Olukotun, S., Fasasi, M., & Balogun, F. (2016). Assessment of radiological hazard of quarry products from southwest Nigeria. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 9(1), 20-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrras.2015.08.004
Karim, M. S., Daroysh, H. H., & Mohammed, A. N. (2016). Assessment of Indoor Radon C Concentrations in Dwellings for Baghdad Governorate by Using RAD-7 Detector. DOI: 10.4236/detection.2016.42006
Marchetti, E., Trevisi, R., Tonnarini, S., Orlando, C., Bruno, M., Amici, M., . . . Nappi, F. (2004). Natural radioactivity exposure: risk assessment of workers in Italian quarries. Paper presented at the 11 th International Congress of the International Radiation Protection Association.
Mehta, V., Singh, S., Chauhan, R., & Mudahar, G. (2014). Measurement of indoor radon, thoron and their progeny levels in dwellings of Ambala district, Haryana, Northern India using Solid state nuclear track detectors. Romanian Journal of Physics, 59(7-8), 834-845. D DOI: 10.12691/aees-9-7-2
Nduka, J. K., Umeh, T. C., Kelle, H. I., Ozoagu, P. C., & Okafor, P. C. (2022). Health risk a Assessment of radiation dose of background radionuclides in quarry soil and uptake by Plants in Ezillo-Ishiagu in Ebonyi South-Eastern Nigeria. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 6, 100269. DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2022.100269
Obed, R., Lateef, H., & Ademola, A. (2010). Indoor radon survey in a university campus of Nigeria. Journal of Medical Physics/Association of Medical Physicists of India, 35(4), 242. doi: 10.4103/0971-6203.71760
Oladejo, O. F., Olukotun, S. F., Ogundele, L. T., Gbenu, S. T., & Fakunle, M. A. (2020). Radiological risk assessment of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMS) from selected quarry sites in Edo State, South-south, Nigeria. Environmental Earth Sciences, 79, 1-8. DOI: 10.1007/s12665-020-8842-7
Oni, E. A., & Adagunodo, T. A. (2019). Assessment of radon concentration in groundwater within Ogbomoso, SW Nigeria. Paper presented at the Journal of Physics: Conference Series. DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1299/1/012098
Onwuka, M., Avwiri, G., & Ononugbo, C. (2023). Evaluation of Radionuclide Concentration in Suspended Particulate Matter from Two Quarry Sites in Nigeria. Asian Journal of Physical and Chemical Sciences, 11(2), 29-40. DOI: 10.9734/ajopacs/2023/v11i2199
Orosun, M., Lawal, T., & Akinyose, F. (2016). Natural radionuclide concentrations and radiological impact assessment of soil and water in Tanke-Ilorin, Nigeria. Zimbabwe Journal of Science & Technology, 11, 158-172.
Oyegun, R. (1985). The use and waste of water in a third world city. GeoJournal, 10, 205-210.
Pervin, S., Yeasmin, S., Khandaker, M. U., & Begum, A. (2022). Radon concentrations in indoor and outdoor environments of Atomic Energy Centre Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Concomitant Health Hazards. Frontiers in Nuclear Engineering, 1, 901818. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnuen.2022.901818 .
Regassa, T. N., Raba, G. A., Chekol, B. M., & Kpeglo, D. O. (2023). Assessment of natural radioactivity and associated radiological risks from soils of Hakim Gara quarry sites in Ethiopia. Heliyon. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19476.
Samuel, O. O. (2018). Radiation exposure level in some granite quarry sites within Ohimini and Gwer-East Local Government Areas of Benue State Nigeria. Insights Med Phys, 2(3), 12. DOI: 10.21767/2574-285X.100019
Sherafat, S., Mansour, S. N., Mosaferi, M., Aminisani, N., Yousefi, Z., & Maleki, S. (2019). First indoor radon mapping and assessment excess lifetime cancer risk in Iran. MethodsX, 6, 2205-2216. DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2019.09.028
Tsepav, M., Yakubu, A., Gene, A., & Abbas, U. (2018). Assessment of Radiation Related Health Risks of Quarry Sites in the Vicinity of Lapai, North Central Nigeria. Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, 9(4), 1414-1421.
Ugbede, F. O., & Echeweozo, E. O. (2017). Estimation of annual effective dose and excess lifetime cancer risk from background ionizing radiation levels within and around quarry site in Okpoto-Ezillo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The land, 7(12).
UNSCotEoA, R., & Annex, B. (2000). Exposures from natural radiation sources. New York, United Nation.
