Impact Assessment of Natural Radionuclides in Cassava Tubbers Harvested from a Farmlands Around Quarry in Moniya Ibadan, Nigeria

• Emmanuel O. AGBENYI

  Department of Standard Secondary Dosimetry Laboratory, National Institute of Radiation Protection and Research, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

  Author

• Adefope OWOJORI

  Department of Physics, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

  Author

• Oluwadare J. AKINDUGBAGBE

  Department of Physics, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

  Author

• Babatunde ADEBO

  Department of Physics, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

  Author

• Chigbo I. OKEREKE

  Department of Science Laboratory, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Ibadan, Nigeria

  Author

Quarry activities can be used to evaluate natural radionuclide concentrations in surrounding soil, which could pose risks to human health when cultivated crops within the quarry site are consumed. This study assessed the radiological impact on cultivated crops and soil on farm around quarry (FAQ) and farm far from quarry (FFQ), located near a quarry site in Moniya, Ibadan, Nigeria. A total of six soil samples and six cassava samples were randomly collected and analysed using a NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectrometer. In the soil samples, (⁴⁰K) activity concentrations were 412.28 ± 68.85 Bq/kg (SFAQ, S, represent Soil in this context) and 275.15 ± 22.67 Bq/kg (SFFQ), (²²⁶Ra) concentrations were 37.49 ± 10.51 Bq/kg and 53.16 ± 15.37 Bq/kg, while (²³²Th) recorded 32.31 ± 8.26 Bq/kg and 47.44 ± 10.14 Bq/kg for SFAQ and SFFQ respectively. In cassava, ⁴⁰K concentration from 206.03 ± 108.89 Bq/kg (CFAQ, C, represent Cassava in context) and 356.89 ± 64.24 Bq/kg (CFFQ). ²²⁶Ra range from 24.57 ± 25.13 Bq/kg (CFAQ) and 41.31 ± 13.14 Bq/kg (CFFQ), while ²³²Th concentration were 10.51 ± 9.11 Bq/kg and 22.44 ± 9.59 Bq/kg respectively. Some ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th concentrations exceeded global averages. The estimated annual effective dose from soil was 0.13 mSv/y in (SFAQ) and 0.16 mSv/y in (SFFQ), while that of cassava was 0.06 mSv/y. AED from cassava was 0.06 mSv/y in (CFAQ) and 0.12 mSv/y in (CFFQ). Radium equivalent activity (Raeq) values were below the 370 Bq/kg safety limit: 115 Bq/kg (SFAQ), 142 Bq/kg (SFFQ), 55 Bq/kg (CFAQ), and 101 Bq/kg (CFFQ).  The estimated annual effective dose from the soil samples were above the UNSCEAR global average of 0.07 mSv/y. Although some radionuclide levels exceeded global benchmarks, the overall cancer risk associated with quarry activities in these farmlands appears low and poses no risk. However, the elevated dose values suggest the need for further investigation into potential long-term health implications for communities around the quarry site.

• FJET_12_54_47

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