Radionuclides proportion and the assessment of radiological risks of soil and cassava in ika land, delta state, nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the levels of radionuclides and radiological risks of soil and cassava grown in Ika land (Delta State, Nigeria). A total of 20 farm samples were sampled and both cassava and soil samples were sampled, mixed and analyzed using a calibrated NaI (Tl) gamma-ray spectrometer. The soil activity concentrations were 447.39 ug/kg (00K), 6.29 ug/kg (238U), and 3.23 ug/kg (²³²Th). The values in cassava were 400.30 ± 4.46 Bq/kg (40K), 5.18 +0.13 Bq /kg (238U) and 3.03 + 0.04 Bq/kg (²³²Th). The approximate mean absorbed dose rate was 23.51 nGy/h, an effective dose of 0.4 -1/y and a cancer risk of 2.55 x 10 -3 on cassava consumption. Doses that were associated with soil were a little more. In the region, there is no serious radiological health risk in the intake of soil or cassava because all values are less than the recommended safety limits.