Assessment of Natural Radionuclides Concentrations and Radiological Hazards from Soil Samples in Alabata and Its Environs, Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria

Authors

  • Oluwaseun T. Olurin
    Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta
  • Saheed A. Ganiyu
    Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta
  • Fidelis O. Ogunsanwo
    Tai Solarin University of Education image/svg+xml
  • Aderemi A. Alabi
    Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta
  • Peter O. Olagbaju
  • Rasaq Akanji Lasisi
    Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta

Keywords:

Soil samples, Radiation exposure, Radiological hazards, Natural radionuclides, Gamma ray spectrometry, Activity concentrations

Abstract

The natural occurring level of radioactivity in any soil is one of the main causes of external gamma exposure. The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides from soils in granitic area of Alabata, southwest Nigeria were determined with the aim of knowing the levels and evaluating the radiological hazards. Soil samples were collected and analysed by gamma-ray spectrometry method utilizing NaI scintillation detector. Results show that the ranges (and the conforming average values) of the estimated activity concentrations for 238 U, 232Th and 40K are 6.46   0.00 to 66.57 15.05; 211.56   96.10 to 6.46   0.00, and 211.56 ± 96.10 to 470.02  91.28 Bq/Kg, respectively. 238U was mostly below detection limits (BDL)  All the estimated radiological hazards were observed to be within the threshold limit of 370 Bq/kg, 60 nGy/h per UNSCEAR standards, 1 mSv/yr, 1.45 × 10⁻³, and 1 for radium equivalent activity, absorbed dose rate, effective dose, excess life cancer risk, and external and internal hazard index respectively as recommended by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), Specifying that 238U was mostly below detection limits (BDL). Further investigation into the levels and radiation exposures of quarry soils within the vicinity of the study area is highly suggested.

Author Biographies

Saheed A. Ganiyu

Department of Physics   and Readers

Fidelis O. Ogunsanwo

Department of Physics,    Reader

Aderemi A. Alabi

Department of Physics,   Reader

Peter O. Olagbaju

Department of Physics,

 

Researcher

Rasaq Akanji Lasisi

Department of Physics

Graduate Student

Dimensions

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Published

2026-04-01

How to Cite

Assessment of Natural Radionuclides Concentrations and Radiological Hazards from Soil Samples in Alabata and Its Environs, Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria. (2026). Nigerian Journal of Theoretical and Environmental Physics, 4(1), 29-34. https://doi.org/10.62292/njtep.v4i1.2026.94

How to Cite

Assessment of Natural Radionuclides Concentrations and Radiological Hazards from Soil Samples in Alabata and Its Environs, Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria. (2026). Nigerian Journal of Theoretical and Environmental Physics, 4(1), 29-34. https://doi.org/10.62292/njtep.v4i1.2026.94

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