Dosimetric evaluation of terrestrial Gamma radiation and associated cancer risk in federal university Dutsin-Ma, Nigeria

Abstract

This study evaluates natural radioactivity on FUDMA campuses to ensure radiological safety. Since natural radionuclides are always present in the environment, exposure to terrestrial gamma radiation is unavoidable. The research aimed to measure terrestrial gamma radiation dose rates (TGDR), calculate the annual effective dose (AED), and assess the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR). A digital radiation meter was used for measurements, while Microsoft Excel was used for data analysis.At the take-off campus, The highest AED was recorded at the school clinic (TOC-A5) with a value of 2.76 mSv/y, while the lowest was at the school gate (TOC-A1) at 1.02 mSv/y. The average AED across the campus was 1.75 mSv/y. At the main campus, the highest AED was 2.64 mSv/y at the school clinic (MC-A4), and the lowest was 1.14 mSv/y at the Senate Building (MC-A2), with an average of 1.64 mSv/y. These values exceed the ICRP (2007) recommended limit of 1 mSv/y for the general public, indicating potential health risks.For ELCR, the take-off campus recorded the highest value at the school clinic (TOC-A5) with 8.68, while the lowest was at the school gate (TOC-A1) with 3.21, averaging 5.49. At the main campus, the highest ELCR was 8.30 at the school clinic (MC-A4), and the lowest was 3.59 at the Senate Building (MC-A2), with an average of 4.99. These results suggest an increased radiological risk compared to standard safety limits.