The radioactivity measurements in food crops and their diet derivatives and farm soil samples from Abeokuta, one of the elevated background radiation areas in Nigeria have been carried out in order to determine the co...The radioactivity measurements in food crops and their diet derivatives and farm soil samples from Abeokuta, one of the elevated background radiation areas in Nigeria have been carried out in order to determine the concentration levels of natural radionuclides (40K, 226Ra and 232Th). The activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides in the samples were determined via gamma-ray spectrometry using a 76 mm × 76 mm NaI(Tl) detector. Different common food crops representing the major sources of dietary requirements to the local population were collected for the measurements. The collected food crops were prepared into their different derivable composite diets using preparation techniques locale to the population. Using available food consumption data and the activity concentrations of the radionuclides, the ingestion effective doses were evaluated for the food crops and diet types per preparation techniques. For the tuberous food crop samples, the annual ingestion effective doses in the raw and different composite diets were 0.02 - 0.04 μSv and cumulatively 0.04 - 0.05 μSv while in the non-tuberous crops the doses were 0.44 - 0.70 μSv and cumulatively greater than 1 μSv respectively. Results of the study indicate that method of diet preparation is seen to play a major role in population ingestion dose reduction especially for tuberous crops than in non-tuberous crops. The study also showed that more ingestion dose could be incurred in diets prepared by roasting techniques. The result of the study will serve as a useful radiometric data for future epidemiological studies in the area and for food safety regulations and policy implementations in the country.展开更多
Water samples from streams, hand-dug wells and boreholes in high background radiation areas in Abeokuta, Nigeria have been collected in order to determine the activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th in the sam...Water samples from streams, hand-dug wells and boreholes in high background radiation areas in Abeokuta, Nigeria have been collected in order to determine the activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th in the samples as well as their physicochemical characteristics. These parameters were evaluated in order to deter-mine the quality of these water sources to the local population, who use these water resources for drinking and domestic activities. Measurements of radioactivity in the water samples were carried out using γ-ray spectroscopy, while standard chemistry methods were used for the physicochemical determinations of these quality parameters. A total of fourteen representative water samples from streams (7), boreholes (4), and hand dug wells (3) were collected for study. The determined activity concentrations of the radionuclides in these samples were used to calculate the effective dose to the population from due to ingestion of and drink-ing the locally available water. The total annual ingestion effective doses were found to vary between 115.00 ±1.15μSv and 1362.30 ±438.02 μSv. The physicochemical parameters where found to be lower than the prescribed standard safe limits in the water sources except for the nitrate and phosphate levels which were particularly high in the water samples from boreholes and hand-dug wells. The radiation effective ingestion dose due to ingestion of water from dug wells and streams was found to be higher than the dose due to inges-tion of water from borehole sources in the studied areas. The results obtained in this study, have been taken as a baselines for physicochemical parameters and activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in water samples within Odeda and Obafemi-owode parts of Abeokuta, Nigeria.展开更多
A 10 y (1999-2008) birth records from two public and most accessible maternity hospitals locally in the city of Abeokuta, Nigeria were used to investigate the possible association of high outdoor gamma radiation expos...A 10 y (1999-2008) birth records from two public and most accessible maternity hospitals locally in the city of Abeokuta, Nigeria were used to investigate the possible association of high outdoor gamma radiation exposure on reproductive abnormalities in the city. From the delivery record of 11,923 births in the period under study, a total number of 485 incidences of reproductive abnormalities were recoded. These incidences comprise 228 multiple births, 190 still births and, 67 premature births. Using the available terrestrial gamma radiation exposure data for the city and different reproductive abnormalities, regression assessment was carried out using the Pearson Product Moment (PPM) correlation statistics. The correlation showed that the incidences of reproductive abnormalities and the radiation dose levels were negatively correlated and correlation coefficient values were very low for each of the reproductive abnormalities considered. Factors such as socio-economic potentials of patients, dietary and other environmental factors may have substantial influence on the reproductive defects in the area other than radiation. However, the present study has added to the radiometric information needed in understanding the relationship between natural outdoor radiation exposure and occurrences of reproductive abnormalities in areas of high radiation in the country.展开更多
文摘The radioactivity measurements in food crops and their diet derivatives and farm soil samples from Abeokuta, one of the elevated background radiation areas in Nigeria have been carried out in order to determine the concentration levels of natural radionuclides (40K, 226Ra and 232Th). The activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides in the samples were determined via gamma-ray spectrometry using a 76 mm × 76 mm NaI(Tl) detector. Different common food crops representing the major sources of dietary requirements to the local population were collected for the measurements. The collected food crops were prepared into their different derivable composite diets using preparation techniques locale to the population. Using available food consumption data and the activity concentrations of the radionuclides, the ingestion effective doses were evaluated for the food crops and diet types per preparation techniques. For the tuberous food crop samples, the annual ingestion effective doses in the raw and different composite diets were 0.02 - 0.04 μSv and cumulatively 0.04 - 0.05 μSv while in the non-tuberous crops the doses were 0.44 - 0.70 μSv and cumulatively greater than 1 μSv respectively. Results of the study indicate that method of diet preparation is seen to play a major role in population ingestion dose reduction especially for tuberous crops than in non-tuberous crops. The study also showed that more ingestion dose could be incurred in diets prepared by roasting techniques. The result of the study will serve as a useful radiometric data for future epidemiological studies in the area and for food safety regulations and policy implementations in the country.
文摘Water samples from streams, hand-dug wells and boreholes in high background radiation areas in Abeokuta, Nigeria have been collected in order to determine the activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th in the samples as well as their physicochemical characteristics. These parameters were evaluated in order to deter-mine the quality of these water sources to the local population, who use these water resources for drinking and domestic activities. Measurements of radioactivity in the water samples were carried out using γ-ray spectroscopy, while standard chemistry methods were used for the physicochemical determinations of these quality parameters. A total of fourteen representative water samples from streams (7), boreholes (4), and hand dug wells (3) were collected for study. The determined activity concentrations of the radionuclides in these samples were used to calculate the effective dose to the population from due to ingestion of and drink-ing the locally available water. The total annual ingestion effective doses were found to vary between 115.00 ±1.15μSv and 1362.30 ±438.02 μSv. The physicochemical parameters where found to be lower than the prescribed standard safe limits in the water sources except for the nitrate and phosphate levels which were particularly high in the water samples from boreholes and hand-dug wells. The radiation effective ingestion dose due to ingestion of water from dug wells and streams was found to be higher than the dose due to inges-tion of water from borehole sources in the studied areas. The results obtained in this study, have been taken as a baselines for physicochemical parameters and activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in water samples within Odeda and Obafemi-owode parts of Abeokuta, Nigeria.
文摘A 10 y (1999-2008) birth records from two public and most accessible maternity hospitals locally in the city of Abeokuta, Nigeria were used to investigate the possible association of high outdoor gamma radiation exposure on reproductive abnormalities in the city. From the delivery record of 11,923 births in the period under study, a total number of 485 incidences of reproductive abnormalities were recoded. These incidences comprise 228 multiple births, 190 still births and, 67 premature births. Using the available terrestrial gamma radiation exposure data for the city and different reproductive abnormalities, regression assessment was carried out using the Pearson Product Moment (PPM) correlation statistics. The correlation showed that the incidences of reproductive abnormalities and the radiation dose levels were negatively correlated and correlation coefficient values were very low for each of the reproductive abnormalities considered. Factors such as socio-economic potentials of patients, dietary and other environmental factors may have substantial influence on the reproductive defects in the area other than radiation. However, the present study has added to the radiometric information needed in understanding the relationship between natural outdoor radiation exposure and occurrences of reproductive abnormalities in areas of high radiation in the country.
