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Evaluation of Health Effect of Gamma Radiation from Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lakes in Ebonyi State, During Rainy and Dry Seasons

Received: 5 July 2021     Accepted: 16 July 2021     Published: 4 August 2021
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Abstract

A comparative study of the gamma radiation in Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lakes located in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, during rainy and dry seasons was carried out using a hand-held RadEye G20–ER10 gamma survey meter and a geographical position system. Three samples were taken randomly from five different points of the two Salt-Lakes and their host communities during both seasons and their averages were recorded. An in-situ exposure rate measurements were used to evaluate the absorbed dose rate, the annual effective dose and the Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk. The results obtained were compared with the world average so as to determine the health risk to the studied environment. The mean exposure rate, absorbed dose rate (ADR), annual effective dose (AED), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) from Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lakes during rainy season were 0.139 µSv/h, 138.8 nGy/h, 0.170mSv/y and 0.596×10-3; 0.123 µSv/h, 121.8 nGy/h, 0.149mSv/y and 0.523×10-3 respectively. Also, the mean exposure rates, ADR, AED, and ELCR from Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lake during dry season were 0.177 µSv/h, 176.6 nGy/h, 0.216mSv/y and 0.758×10-3; 0.174 µSv/h, 173.3 nGy/h, 0.213mSv/y and 0.746×10-3 respectively. All the assessed results are higher than the world standard value for the general public. These results showed that the studied areas are radiation contaminated. The results within the Salt Lake environment are higher than the results from their host communities. This may be attributed to the activities within the Salt Lake environment such as local salt processing. Also, the results from the two studied areas during dry season were higher than that of the rainy season.

Published in Radiation Science and Technology (Volume 7, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.rst.20210703.13
Page(s) 60-66
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk, Gamma Radiation, Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lake, Rainy and Dry Season

References
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Cite This Article
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    Chikwendu Emenike Orji, Igboke Chinasa Amos, Kelechukwu Bierechi Okeoma, Udoka Mathias Ukewuhie. (2021). Evaluation of Health Effect of Gamma Radiation from Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lakes in Ebonyi State, During Rainy and Dry Seasons. Radiation Science and Technology, 7(3), 60-66. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rst.20210703.13

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    Chikwendu Emenike Orji; Igboke Chinasa Amos; Kelechukwu Bierechi Okeoma; Udoka Mathias Ukewuhie. Evaluation of Health Effect of Gamma Radiation from Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lakes in Ebonyi State, During Rainy and Dry Seasons. Radiat. Sci. Technol. 2021, 7(3), 60-66. doi: 10.11648/j.rst.20210703.13

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    AMA Style

    Chikwendu Emenike Orji, Igboke Chinasa Amos, Kelechukwu Bierechi Okeoma, Udoka Mathias Ukewuhie. Evaluation of Health Effect of Gamma Radiation from Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lakes in Ebonyi State, During Rainy and Dry Seasons. Radiat Sci Technol. 2021;7(3):60-66. doi: 10.11648/j.rst.20210703.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.rst.20210703.13,
      author = {Chikwendu Emenike Orji and Igboke Chinasa Amos and Kelechukwu Bierechi Okeoma and Udoka Mathias Ukewuhie},
      title = {Evaluation of Health Effect of Gamma Radiation from Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lakes in Ebonyi State, During Rainy and Dry Seasons},
      journal = {Radiation Science and Technology},
      volume = {7},
      number = {3},
      pages = {60-66},
      doi = {10.11648/j.rst.20210703.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rst.20210703.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.rst.20210703.13},
      abstract = {A comparative study of the gamma radiation in Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lakes located in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, during rainy and dry seasons was carried out using a hand-held RadEye G20–ER10 gamma survey meter and a geographical position system. Three samples were taken randomly from five different points of the two Salt-Lakes and their host communities during both seasons and their averages were recorded. An in-situ exposure rate measurements were used to evaluate the absorbed dose rate, the annual effective dose and the Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk. The results obtained were compared with the world average so as to determine the health risk to the studied environment. The mean exposure rate, absorbed dose rate (ADR), annual effective dose (AED), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) from Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lakes during rainy season were 0.139 µSv/h, 138.8 nGy/h, 0.170mSv/y and 0.596×10-3; 0.123 µSv/h, 121.8 nGy/h, 0.149mSv/y and 0.523×10-3 respectively. Also, the mean exposure rates, ADR, AED, and ELCR from Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lake during dry season were 0.177 µSv/h, 176.6 nGy/h, 0.216mSv/y and 0.758×10-3; 0.174 µSv/h, 173.3 nGy/h, 0.213mSv/y and 0.746×10-3 respectively. All the assessed results are higher than the world standard value for the general public. These results showed that the studied areas are radiation contaminated. The results within the Salt Lake environment are higher than the results from their host communities. This may be attributed to the activities within the Salt Lake environment such as local salt processing. Also, the results from the two studied areas during dry season were higher than that of the rainy season.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Evaluation of Health Effect of Gamma Radiation from Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lakes in Ebonyi State, During Rainy and Dry Seasons
    AU  - Chikwendu Emenike Orji
    AU  - Igboke Chinasa Amos
    AU  - Kelechukwu Bierechi Okeoma
    AU  - Udoka Mathias Ukewuhie
    Y1  - 2021/08/04
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rst.20210703.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.rst.20210703.13
    T2  - Radiation Science and Technology
    JF  - Radiation Science and Technology
    JO  - Radiation Science and Technology
    SP  - 60
    EP  - 66
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-5943
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rst.20210703.13
    AB  - A comparative study of the gamma radiation in Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lakes located in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, during rainy and dry seasons was carried out using a hand-held RadEye G20–ER10 gamma survey meter and a geographical position system. Three samples were taken randomly from five different points of the two Salt-Lakes and their host communities during both seasons and their averages were recorded. An in-situ exposure rate measurements were used to evaluate the absorbed dose rate, the annual effective dose and the Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk. The results obtained were compared with the world average so as to determine the health risk to the studied environment. The mean exposure rate, absorbed dose rate (ADR), annual effective dose (AED), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) from Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lakes during rainy season were 0.139 µSv/h, 138.8 nGy/h, 0.170mSv/y and 0.596×10-3; 0.123 µSv/h, 121.8 nGy/h, 0.149mSv/y and 0.523×10-3 respectively. Also, the mean exposure rates, ADR, AED, and ELCR from Uburu and Okposi-Okwu Salt-Lake during dry season were 0.177 µSv/h, 176.6 nGy/h, 0.216mSv/y and 0.758×10-3; 0.174 µSv/h, 173.3 nGy/h, 0.213mSv/y and 0.746×10-3 respectively. All the assessed results are higher than the world standard value for the general public. These results showed that the studied areas are radiation contaminated. The results within the Salt Lake environment are higher than the results from their host communities. This may be attributed to the activities within the Salt Lake environment such as local salt processing. Also, the results from the two studied areas during dry season were higher than that of the rainy season.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo, Nigeria

  • Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo, Nigeria

  • Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo, Nigeria

  • Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo, Nigeria

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