Assessment of Radon Contamination in Drinking Water Sources Around Babban Tsauni Gold Mining Area, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Authors

  • Kafayat Abdulrasheed Odelami
    a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:23:"Kaduna State University";}
  • Mark O. Afolayan Oladipo
    Center for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University
  • M. A Onoja
    Department of Physics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • Yahaya Musa
    Center for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • Saudat O. Aremu
    Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Nigeria

Keywords:

Radon, Activity concentration, Effective Annual Dose, Water sources and Contamination

Abstract

 

Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, is produced through the disintegration of radionuclides like uranium, thorium, or radium in the earth's crust. In this study, the radon levels and the annual effective dose from drinking water sources were assessed in Babban Tsauni, Gwagwalada, Nigeria, where artisanal gold mining is taking place. Water samples were collected and analyzed for 222Rn using liquid scintillation counter (Tri-Carb-LSA1000). The highest radon activity concentration was found in Dobi with a value of 3.215 Bq/L, while the lowest was found in Tsauni 7; 0.025 Bq/L. Both values were significantly below the maximum contamination level of 11.1 Bq/L and the world average value of 10 Bq/L, as established by USEPA and WHO respectively. The annual effective dose from ingesting radon was also below the permissible limit of 1 mSv/y for all age groups, the values for adult, children and infant ranged in mSv/y from 5.59E-07 to 2.35E-05, 8.39E-07 to 3.52E-05, 9.79E-07 to 4.11E-05 and 1.79E-07 to 2.55E-06, 2.68E-07 to 3.82E-06, 3.13E-07 to 4.46E-06 for ground and surface water sources respectively. This study concluded that the radon concentrations in the water sources remained within safe limits and that the anthropogenic activities of gold mining had no significant effect on the water sources.

 

Author Biographies

Mark O. Afolayan Oladipo

Department of Physics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

M. A Onoja

Associate Professor

Department of Physics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Yahaya Musa

Senior Lecturer

Center for Energy Reseach and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Saudat O. Aremu

Senior Lecturer

Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Nigeria

Dimensions

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Published

2024-06-30

How to Cite

Odelami, K. A., Oladipo, M. O. A., Onoja, M. A., Musa, Y., & Aremu, S. O. (2024). Assessment of Radon Contamination in Drinking Water Sources Around Babban Tsauni Gold Mining Area, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Physics, 33(S), 67-74. https://doi.org/10.62292/njp.v33(s).2024.220

Issue

Vol. 33 No. S (2024): Nigerian Journal of Physics - Vol. 33(S)

Section

Articles
Copyright & Licensing

How to Cite

Odelami, K. A., Oladipo, M. O. A., Onoja, M. A., Musa, Y., & Aremu, S. O. (2024). Assessment of Radon Contamination in Drinking Water Sources Around Babban Tsauni Gold Mining Area, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Physics, 33(S), 67-74. https://doi.org/10.62292/njp.v33(s).2024.220