Human Internal Exposure Due to Radionuclides Levels in Foodstuffs Grown Using Fertilizer in Jos Nigeria

Year 2016, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 60 - 64, 30.03.2016

E.b. Faweya M.j. Ayeni J Kayode

Abstract

The
activity concentration of naturally occurring radionuclides in food samples
grown with fertilizer in an elevated radiation background area of Jos, Nigeria
were determined using gamma-ray spectrometry. The present study investigated
the impact of Sulphate of ammonia fertilizer on foodstuffs samples. Sixty
foodstuffs samples from fields cultivated with fertilizer in tin mining area
were collected and analyzed for the activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra,
²³²Th employing gamma spectrometry. In the same vein, similarly
analysis was undertaken in sixty samples grown with commonly primitive methods
without fertilizer. The annual effective doses in the foodstuffs were deduced.
The calculated values for foodstuffs grown with fertilizer were 9.2-188,
0.03-0.51 and 0.02-0.22 µSv y^-1 for ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra,
²³²Th. For foodstuffs grown without fertilizer application, the
values were 2.7-146, 0-0.43 and 0.01-0.24 µSv y^-1. Based on ICRP
recommendation, the level of radionuclides in the foodstuffs grown with
fertilizer in tin mining area of the city will not constitute and radiological
burden to the populace.

Keywords

Foodstuffs, Tin, Fertilizer, Radioactivity, Jos Nigeria

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