RADIOLOGICAL HEALTH HAZARDS ANALYSIS IN GROUNDWATER BY GROSS ALPHA AND GROSS BETA MEASUREMENTS
R. L. NJINGA *
Department of Physics, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria
U. U. ELELE
Department of Chemistry, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria
I. A. MUHAMMAD
Department of Physics, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Gross alpha and gross beta in 25 groundwater samples from Lapai and Agaie areas in Niger State, Nigeria were determined using Alpha/Beta counting system (Canberra iMaticTM). The average activity concentrations of gross alpha and gross beta were 0.038484±0.005630 Bq/L and 0.527270±0.292830 Bq/L in the well, streams and boreholes water samples respectively. The results obtained are below the guideline levels of gross alpha (0.5 Bq/L) and gross beta (1.0 Bq/L) in drinking water established by the World Health Organization. These results show that consumption of groundwater for the study areas may not pose any significant radiological health hazards through ingestion to the population.
Keywords: Activity concentration, gross alpha, gross beta, groundwater, drinking water