Qualitative Analysis of Background Radiation from 238U, 232Th and 40K in Selected Locations in Ekiti State using Aeroradiometry Data

Abstract

Airborne radiometric data collected from Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) for selected locations of Ekiti State were analyzed using Oasis Montaj to measure the radionuclides content of the air at 500 m above the ground. The absorbed dose was consequently estimated from the radionuclides content measured in order to determine the possible radiation risk to the dwellers of the locations. The estimated activity concentration of 238U, 232Th and 40K ranges from 0.77-9.50 ppm, 3.49-52.84 ppm and 0.21-4.40% respectively. The radionuclides content was re-construe in Bq/kg using the relevant conversion factors and the values range from 9.49-117.36 Bq/kg, 14.17-214.51 and 65.33-1377.32 for 238U, 232Th and 40K accordingly. The qualitative analysis gave the value of the absorbed dose of 31.92-214.04 nGy/h. The ternary map indicates the relative abundance of 40K in the study area.