Radon-222 Concentration and Health Implication in Borehole Water of Ngumari Costain, Jere, Local Government, Borno State

Authors

Abstract

This study investigates the concentration of Radon-222 (²²²Rn) in borehole water samples from Ngumari Costain in Jere Local Government Area, Borno State. Radon-222 levels were assessed using a Tri-Carb LSA-1000 liquid scintillation counter. Although Nigeria lacks specific guidelines for Radon-222 in drinking water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) advises a maximum limit of 11.1 Bq/L. The recorded concentrations ranged from 4.26 to 13.50 Bq/L, with an average of 8.83 Bq/L. Certain locations, including Layen D.J. and Layen Alau, showed slightly elevated levels above the recommended limit, while Layen Zamani recorded the lowest concentration. Despite these variations, the estimated annual effective dose from ingestion and inhalation of Radon-222 remains well within the World Health Organization (WHO) safety threshold of 0.1 mSv/year for radionuclides in drinking water. The annual effective dose for various age groups—infants, children, and adults—falls below the recommended limit, indicating that water consumption from this area is safe for human health. Additionally, calculated health risk parameters, such as Whole-Body Equivalent (WBE) and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR), are below international safety standards. These findings indicate that borehole water in Ngumari Costain does not pose significant health risks to the local population and is considered safe for drinking.

Author Biographies

Adamu Zafu Ngari

Department of physics

Peter Budu Teru

Department of Physics

Amram Thuma Yaram

Department of Physics

Dimensions

Abdulkadir, M., Garba, N. N., Rabiu, N., Abdallah, C. A. C., Saleh, M. A., Abdullahi I. M., Aminu Saidu, and Abdulkadir, A. (2024). Statistical Analysis Of Radon Concentration In Borehole Waters; Correlation To Geological Formations Katsina State, North Western Nigeria. FUDMA Journal of Sciences (FJS), 7(3): 22–28.

Abdu Nasiru Muhammad., Aznan Fazli Ismail., and Nuraddeen Nasiru Garba., (2022). Annual effective dose associated with radioactivity in drinking water from tin mining areas in North-western Nigeria. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, (15):96-102.

Adulkadir, W. A., A. Bello., A Yakubu., S.T. Sununu., A. Usman., and M. Sulieman., (2021). Investigation of Radon Concentration in Drinking Water in Some Selected Areas of Sokoto, Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific Research, 9(6): 86-91.

Akabuogu, E. U., Nwaokoro, E., and Oni, E. A., (2019). Measurement and Analyses of Indoor Radon Level at a University in South-Eastern Nigeria. International Research Journal of Pure and Applied Physics, 6 (1): 8–17.

Amos, Vincent. Ntarisa., (2022). Development of a Novel Technique for Radon Detection Based on Liquid Scintillation Counting System. Ph.D. Thesis Kyungpook National University Department of Physics,

Ana Rita, Gomes., Sérgio, Dias., Anabela, Mourato., João, Abrantes., and Mário, Reis., (2023). 222Rn calibration procedure for water analyses by liquid scintillation counting. Radiation Detection Technology and Methods, 7: 311–319.

Bashir, M., and Abdullahi, S. G., (2024). Annual Effective Dose due to Ingestion and Inhalation of 222Rn in Drinking Water of Daupe Village in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Theoretical and Environmental Physics (NJTEP), 2(2), 70–75.

Bashir, M., Kanu., F. C., and Suleiman, I. K., (2023). A Review of Radon Concentration in Water Sources in Nigeria and its Impact, A periodical of the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, UMYU, Katsina, 2(3): 20-26.

Briggs-Kamara. Margaret. Apaemi, Briggs., Sigalo, Friday. Barikpe., Iyeneomie, Tamunobereton-Ari., and Orlunta, Aloysius.Ndubisi., (2021). Evaluation of Indoor Radon and Its Health Risks Parameters within Azuabie, Trans-Amadi, and Nkpogu Towns, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Physical and Chemical Sciences, 9 (2): 25-5.

Dahlang, T., Pradana, R., and Mellawati, J., (2023). Radon (222Rn) Radioactivity Level at the BATAN Workplace using RAD7. Journal for The Applications of Isotopes and Radiation,16 (2): 107–112.

Garba N. N. Rabi’u, N., Dewu, B. B. M., Sadiq, U., and Yamusa, Y. A., (2013). Radon assessment in groundwater sources from Zaria and environs, Nigeria. International Journal of Physical Sciences, 8(42): 1983–1983.

Garba, N.N., Rabi'u, N. Dewu B.B.M., (2012). Preliminary studies on 222Rn concentration in groundwater from Zaria, Nigeria, Journal Physical. Science. 23(1) 57–64.

Irene, Opoku-Nitim., Owiredu, Gynampo., and Aba, Bentil. Andam., (2019). Risk Assessment of Radon in Some Bottled Water on the Ghanaian Market. Environmental Research community,

Jibril, M. K., Garba, N. N., Nasiru, R., and Ibrahim, N., (2021). Assessment of Radon Concentrations in Water Sources from Sabon Gari Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria. FUDMA Journal of Sciences (FJS), 5(1), 254–260.

Jovana, Nikolova., Ivana Stojković., Nataša, Todorović., Branislava Tenjović., Srđan, Vuković., Jovana, Knežević., (2018). Evaluation of different LSC methods for 222Rn determination in waters. Applied Radiation and Isotopes journal, www.elsevier.com/locate/apradiso.142: 56–63.

Krishna, Pal .Singh., Subhash, Chandra., Mukesh, Prasad., Abhishek, Joshi., Ganesh Prasad., and R. C. Ramola., (2023). Estimation of radiation dose due to ingestion of radon in water samples of Garhwal Himalaya, India. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09002-3

Khattak, N. U., Khan, M. A., Shah, M. T., and Javed, M. W. (2011). Radon concentration in drinking water sources of the Main Campus of the University of Peshawar and surrounding areas, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Journal Radioanal Nucl Chem, 290: 493–505.

Kotila, A. A., and Koki, F. S., (2022). Determination of Radon-222 Concentration from the mining Sites of Maru, Anka, and Bukkuyum areas in Zamfara state, Nigeria. Nigeria Journal of Physics, NIP, 239–246.

Lawal, M.K., Ayanlola, P.S., Aremu, A.A., Oladapo, O.O., Isola, G.A., Oni, O.M., and Adeoje, E.A., (2023). Assessment of occupational exposure to radon-222 in water treatment and production plants in Ogbomoso, Southwestern, Nigeria. International Journal of Radiation Research, 21(2): 255-260.

Matthew, O. Isinkaye., Fadeke, Matthew, Ojelabi., Clement, O. Adegun1 · Paulinah, O. Fasanmi., Fatai, A. Adeleye., Olawale, G. Olowomofe., (2021). Annual effective dose from 222Rn in groundwater of a Nigeria University campus area. Applied Water Science Springer, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-021-01417-1. 11(85).

Hauwa'u, Kulu. Shu'aibu., Mayeen, Uddin. Khandaker., Auwal, Baballe., Salisu, Tata., Mohammed, Auwal. Adamu., (2020). Determination of radon concentration in groundwater of Gadau, Bauchi State, Nigeria, and estimation of effective dose. Radiation Physics and Chemistry, https://www.elsevier.com/locate/radphyschem.

Olukunle, Olaonipekun. Oladapo., Theophilus, Aanuoluwa. Adagunodo., Abraham, Adewale. Aremu., Olatunde, Michae. Oni., Abosede, Olufunmi. Adewoye., (2022). Evaluation of soil gas radon concentrations from different geological units with varying strata in a crystalline basement complex of southwestern Nigeria. Environ Monit Assess, 194 (486) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10173-x springer.

Oni, O. M., Yusuff, I. M., Adagunodo, T. A., (2019). Measurement of Radon-222 Concentration in Soil-Gas of Ogbomoso Southwestern Nigeria using RAD7. International Journal of History and Scientific Studies Research, (IJHSSR) https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1299/1/012098 .

Rangaswamy, D. Rangegowda., Suresh, Shesha., Sannappa, Jadiyappa., Rajesh, S. Mugalgaon., and Srinivasa, Erathimmaiah., (2023). Radon activity and their radiological doses in drinking water of Chitradurga district, Karnataka, India. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 199(20): 2542–2547.

Rilwan, U., Yahaya, I., Musa, M., Galadima, O.O., Waida, J., and Idris, M. M., (2022). Investigation of Radon-222 in Water from Loko Town in Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Journal of Oncology and Cancer Screening,

Serge, Mbida. Mbembe., Bertrand, Akamba. Mbembe., André, Manga., Patrice, Ele. Abiama., Saidou., Philippe, Ondo. Meye., Pierre, Owono. Ateba., and Germain, Hubert Ben–Bolie., (2021). Indoor radon, external dose rate, and assessment of lung cancer risk in dwellings: the case of Ebolowa town, Southern Cameroon. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/geac20

Salik, Nazir., Shakeel, Simnani., B. K. Sahoo., Rosaline Mishra., Tanu Sharma., Sajad, Masood., (2020). Monitoring geothermal springs and groundwater of Pir Panjal, Jammu, and Kashmir, for radon contamination. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Springer, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07451-8.

Sura, Al-Harahsheh., and Mohummad, Al-Dalabeeh., (2020). Measurement of Radon Levels in the Groundwater of Al-Rusaifah City in Zarqa Governorate Using Liquid Scintillation Counter. Jordan Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences (JJEES) 11(2): 98-102.

Suresh, S. Rangaswamy, D. R., Srinivasa E., and Sannappa, J., (2020). Measurement of radon concentration in drinking water and natural radioactivity in soil and their radiological hazards. Journal of radiation research and applied sciences, 13(1). 12–26 https://doi.org/10.1080/16878507.2019.1693175.

Umma, Abdullahi., Asuku, A., Umar, A., Ahmed, Y. A., Adam, U. S., Abdulmalik, N. F., Yunusa, M. H. and Abubakar, A. R.., (2020). Assessment of Radon Concentration and Associated Health Implications in Ground Water and Soil Around Riruwai Mine Site, Kano State, Nigeria and its Environs. FUDMA Journal of Sciences (FJS), 4(3). 242–246.

United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, UNSCEAR, (2019). Sources, Effects, and Risks of Ionizing Radiation. Report to the General Assembly, with Scientific Annexes B

United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, UNSCEAR, (2000). Sources, Effects, and Risks of Ionizing Radiation. Report to the General Assembly.

United States Environmental Protection Agency USEPA, (2017). Radon in Drinking Water: Health Risk Reduction and Cost Analysis.

World Health Organization WHO, (2008). Guidelines for drinking water quality, 3rd edition: Volume 1; Recommendation incorporating the first and second addenda, Geneva. Switzerland.

Yusuf, Ahijjo. Musa., Adamu, Nchama. Baba-Kutigi., (2014). Assessment of Indoor Cancer Linked Radionuclides in Sokoto Urban Dwelling. Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 4(1)

Yashaswini, T., Ningappa, C., Niranjan, R.S., and Sannappa, J., (2020). Radon Concentration Level in Ground and Drinking Water around Kabini River Basin, Karnataka. Journal Geological Society of India, 95: 273–278.

Published

2024-12-31

How to Cite

Jauro, D., Ngari, A. Z., Teru, P. B., & Yaram, A. T. (2024). Radon-222 Concentration and Health Implication in Borehole Water of Ngumari Costain, Jere, Local Government, Borno State. Nigerian Journal of Physics, 33(3), 134-141. https://doi.org/10.62292/njp.v33i3.2024.280

Issue

Vol. 33 No. 3 (2024): Nigerian Journal of Physics - Vol. 33 No. 3

Section

Articles
Copyright & Licensing

How to Cite

Jauro, D., Ngari, A. Z., Teru, P. B., & Yaram, A. T. (2024). Radon-222 Concentration and Health Implication in Borehole Water of Ngumari Costain, Jere, Local Government, Borno State. Nigerian Journal of Physics, 33(3), 134-141. https://doi.org/10.62292/njp.v33i3.2024.280