Studies on Radon Concentration in Underground Water and the Associated Health Impact Around Bauchi Metropolis, Nigeria

Authors

  • Hussaini Abdulkarim
    Sa’adu Zungur University
  • Dauda Abubakar
    Sa’adu Zungur University
  • Ladan Haruna
    Sa’adu Zungur University
  • Auwalu Baballe
    Sa’adu Zungur University

Keywords:

Radon, Annual effective dose, Underground water, Scintillation counter

Abstract

Health risks of Radon in water is a global concern. Radon is the major radioactive carcinogen in water causing lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon activity concentration in underground water samples from Bauchi metropolis and their possible health risk was assessed. A total of 20 groundwater samples were analyzed using by liquid scintillation counter. The results show that the highest concentration of 25.17 Bq /L was found in sample BH1 (Hand pump borehole) and the lowest concentration of 8.35 Bq/L was in sample W9 (Hand-dug well), with a mean value 14.63 Bq /L, which is clearly above USEPA safety threshold of 11.1 Bq /L. The cumulative effective dose of ingestion and inhalation varied from 1.98 to 5.75 µSv/y with mean value of 3.76 µSv/y. The total annual effective dose obtained (3.76 µSv/y) is within the recommended safe limit of 0.1mSv/y provided by WHO (2017). The results of this study could support the efforts of authorities and regulators who are responsible for controlling and strategizing to ensure public safety against radon exposures.

Dimensions

Abba, L., Nasiru, R. u., Garba, N., & Ahmed, Y. A. (2020). Assessment of annual effective dose due to inhalation and ingestion of radon in water samples from the cement industrial area of Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria. Fudma Journal of Sciences, 4(2), 615-619.

Ajiboye, Y., Isinkaye, M., & Khanderkar, M. (2018). Spatial distribution mapping and radiological hazard assessment of groundwater and soil gas radon in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria. Environmental earth sciences, 77(14), 545.

Ali, N., Khan, E., Akhter, P., Khan, F., & Waheed, A. (2010). Estimation of mean annual effective dose through radon concentration in the water and indoor air of Islamabad and Murree. Radiation protection dosimetry, 141(2), 183-191.

Alomari, A. H., Saleh, M. A., Hashim, S., Alsayaheen, A., & Abdeldin, I. (2019). Activity concentrations of 226Ra, 228Ra, 222Rn and their health impact in the groundwater of Jordan. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 322(2), 305-318.

Alter, H. W., & Oswald, R. A. (1988). Nationwide distribution of indoor radon measurements. US Environmental Protection Agency Symposium on Radon,

Althoyaib, S., & El-Taher, A. (2015). The measurement of radon and radium concentrations in well water from Al-Jawaa, Saudi Arabia. J Radioanal Nucl Chem, 304, 547-552.

Balogun, O. A., & Medina, U. (2024). Assessment of Radon-222 in Selected Water Sources in Gwagwalada, Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Physics, 33(3), 1-9.

Binesh, A., Mowlavi, A., & Mohammadi, S. (2012). Estimation of the effective dose from radon ingestion and inhalation in drinking water sources of Mashhad, Iran.

Bonotto, D. M. (2014). 222Rn, 220Rn and other dissolved gases in mineral waters of southeast Brazil. Journal of environmental radioactivity, 132, 21-30.

Duggal, V., Mehra, R., & Rani, A. (2013). Determination of 222Rn level in groundwater using a RAD7 detector in the Bathinda district of Punjab, India. Radiation protection dosimetry, 156(2), 239-245.

Farai, I. P., Muritala, A. A., Oni, O. M., Samuel, T. D., & Abraham, A. (2023). Radiological indices estimation from radon concentration in selected groundwater supplies in Abeokuta, south western Nigeria. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 191, 110534.

Ibrahim, S., Koki, F. S., Maibulangu, M. H., & Baballe, A. (2023). Terrestrial gamma radiation dose (TGRD) levels in Northern zone of Bauchi, nigeria: mapping and statistical relationship between gamma dose rates and geological formations. Gadau Journal of Pure and Allied Sciences, 2(1), 9-15.

Le, C. H., Huynh, N. P. T., & Le, Q. B. (2015). Radon and radium concentrations in drinkable water supplies of the Thu Duc region in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 105, 219-224.

Malain, D., Regan, P., Bradley, D., Matthews, M., Al-Sulaiti, H., & Santawamaitre, T. (2012). An evaluation of the natural radioactivity in Andaman beach sand samples of Thailand after the 2004 tsunami. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 70(8), 1467-1474.

Mehra, R., & Bala, P. (2014). Estimation of annual effective dose due to radon level in indoor air and soil gas in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 142, 16-20.

Nuhu, H., Hashim, S., Sanusi, M. S. M., & Saleh, M. A. (2020). Radon activity concentration measurements in water sources from Perak state Malaysia. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 13(1), 665-671.

Olise, F. S., Akinnagbe, D. M., & Olasogba, O. S. (2016). Radionuclides and radon levels in soil and ground water from solid minerals-hosted area, south-western Nigeria. Cogent Environmental Science, 2(1), 1142344.

Rani, A., Mehra, R., & Duggal, V. (2013). Radon monitoring in groundwater samples from some areas of northern Rajasthan, India, using a RAD7 detector. Radiation protection dosimetry, 153(4), 496-501.

Shu'aibu, H. u. K., Khandaker, M. U., Baballe, A., Tata, S., & Adamu, M. A. (2021). Determination of radon concentration in groundwater of Gadau, Bauchi State, Nigeria and estimation of effective dose. Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 178, 108934.

Shuaibu, H. K., Khandaker, M. U., Alrefae, T., & Bradley, D. (2017). Assessment of natural radioactivity and gamma-ray dose in monazite rich black Sand Beach of Penang Island, Malaysia. Marine pollution bulletin, 119(1), 423-428.

Published

2026-03-25

How to Cite

Abdulkarim, H., Abubakar, D., Haruna, L., & Baballe, A. (2026). Studies on Radon Concentration in Underground Water and the Associated Health Impact Around Bauchi Metropolis, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Physics, 35(1), 220-227. https://doi.org/10.62292/njp.v35i1.2026.533

Issue

Vol. 35 No. 1 (2026): Nigerian Journal of Physics - Vol. 35 No. 1

Section

Articles
Copyright & Licensing

How to Cite

Abdulkarim, H., Abubakar, D., Haruna, L., & Baballe, A. (2026). Studies on Radon Concentration in Underground Water and the Associated Health Impact Around Bauchi Metropolis, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Physics, 35(1), 220-227. https://doi.org/10.62292/njp.v35i1.2026.533

Most read articles by the same author(s)