Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals and Radionuclides in Vegetable Samples from Selected Nigerian Radiological Centers

Oketayo Oyebamiji O, Adeyemi Fredrick O, Oke Aduragbemi O, Adigwe Chika Blessing, Ayanda Olushola S

Abstract


In this study, the heavy metal and radionuclide contents of vegetable samples from some selected radiological centres have been determined using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Analyzer and Gamma Spectrometer respectively. For heavy metals in vegetable samples from the three different sites, the mean concentration ranged from 0.680 to 8260.637 mg / kg. The results showed that the levels of Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Br and Ca were relatively higher (t > 0.05) in the sites than control. In most cases, samples at the sites were slightly enriched in Mo, Zn, As, Se, Fe, Rb, Ti, (E.F = 1.100 - 9.00) but highly enriched in Br (EF > 10). For the radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K, the absorbed dose rate in the samples ranged from (1.05 - 54.95) Bq/kg, (50.25 - 61.05) Bq/kg and (113.60 - 14560.56) Bq / kg respectively. The activity concentrations were higher than United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation guidelines for 232Th and 40K but lower for 238U. The absorbed dose rates and annual effective dose were found to be in range of 50.400 to 120.900 (nGyh−1) and 0.061 to 0.571 (µSvy−1) respectively. The overall annual effective dose was lower than the allowable limit of 1mSvy−1 set by International Commission on Radiological Protection. Hex and Hin were calculated and found to be within internationally recommended values. Findings from this study revealed that the vegetables from these sites were contaminated and are not good for consumption

Keywords


Risk assessment, Heavy metal and radionuclide Content, EDXRF, Gamma Spectrometer, Absorbed Dose rate

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