Assessment of Outdoor Background Radiation Level and its Radiological Hazards at Jimeta and Yola Towns of Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The radiation from different types of radionuclides has both advantages and disadvantages. However, detailed research reveals that the  drawbacks of several radionuclides far outweigh their advantages, particularly in regions with high concentrations, posing alarming  impacts on human health. The study focuses on assessing outdoor background radiation levels in Jimeta and Yola towns, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Using a well-calibrated portable halogen-quenched Geiger Muller (GM) detector at 20 locations, measurements were taken at an  elevation of 1.0m above ground level, with GPS tracking for accurate location. The research evaluates radiological health hazards and  radiation effective doses to different body organs based on outdoor background exposure rates. Comparison with recommended permissible limits reveals that mean values for outdoor background exposure levels (0.016 mRh-1) and absorbed dose rates (147.46  nGyh-1) exceed safety limits (0.013 mRh-1, 84.0 nGyh-1) set by UNSCEAR and ICRP. The total excessive lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) ranged  from 0.33× 10−3 to 2.61× 10−3 , with a mean value of 0.78 × 10−3 , close to the world average lifetime cancer limit (1.45× 10−3 ). Despite the mean annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) (0.2219mSvy-1) being below the recommended limit of 1.00 mSvy-1 for general public  exposure, and effective doses to various body organs remaining below 1.0 mSvy-1, the study indicates potential long-term health hazards  such as cancer due to accumulated doses. Generally, the study shows that Jimeta and Yola Metroplis is relatively safe  radiologically with little contamination which could be attributed to the geological formation and partly due to human activity such as  market and car park for transport system in the area. However, the contamination will not pose any immediate radiological health effect  on resident of the area but there is tendency for long –term health hazards in the future such as cancer due to doses accumulated. It is  therefore recommended that regular radiation monitoring exercise should be conducted on the area from time to time in order to  checkmate both the workers and the members of public from high radiation exposure.