Determination of annual effective dose equivalent and the excess lifetime cancers risk in water samples from a mining site in Jayfi, Pago Tungan Goro of Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

Mining industry in Nigeria provides economic benefit of wealth creations and employment opportunities, however, the industry is associated with negative health impact to miners and the surrounding communities resulting from mining processes. Gross alpha and beta radionuclide activity of water sources from Jayfi, Pago of Tungan Goro, Minna, Niger state was carried out. Eleven water samples were collected from the farming, residential/commercial, and industrial zones in the community and were analyzed using the protean instrument corporation (PIC) MPC 2000DP, single channel proportional counters. Two radiological parameters, which are the Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE) and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) were determined. We are assuming 70years as the average duration of life for humans, the results gotten are; AEDE _{(α and β)} 0.013237/0.645534mSv/y and ELCR _{(α and β)}0.280742/1.77 X 10³ respectively. This shows that the concentrated values of beta are much higher than their corresponding values of alpha and ICRP accepted values of 0.5Bq/L for alpha and 1Bq/L for beta show elevated values.