Examination of Natural Radioactivity Concentration and Radiological Exposure of Soil Within Mining Site in Umuahia South Abia State Nigeria, Using High Purity Germanium (HPGe) Gamma Ray Spectrometry

Abstract

Mining activity is one of the major sources of exposure to radiation. The main goal of this study was to determine the natural radioactivity level and its radiological exposure risk in mining site Umuahia South Abia State, Nigeria, using High Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma ray spectrometry. The activity concentration of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th in the soil ranges from 31±2 to 367±27 Bq kg-1, with mean value of 142±11 Bq kg-1; from 26±2 to 65±5 Bq kg-1, with mean value of 49±4; and from 53±9 to 109±17 Bq kg-1, with mean value of 77±16 Bq kg-1, respectively. The activity concentrations of 226Ra and 232Th are above the global values of 32 and 45 Bq kg-1 while 40K is depleted in relation to the global mean of 412 Bq kg-1. Radiological parameters are generally in agreement with the values observed for other Nigerian and other countries soil reported in literature. The main responsible for the values observed for the radiological parameters is 232Th followed by 226Ra. The use of this soil for dwelling construction is unlikely to pose any radiological harm for the residents.