Radioactivity Concentrations in Soil Samples from Kandam, Gyalgyal, Burmawan masaka, Dinbisu and Giyawa Mines in Wurno LGA, Sokoto State, Nigeria

Aims: This study was conducted in a bid to ascertain the concentration of NORMS in the soil samples dugout of some mining sites in Kandam, Gyalggal, Burmawan masaka, Dinbisu and Giyawa town in Wurno LGA, Sokoto State Nigeria. The concerns about NORMS radioactivity in the environment are frequently linked to natural radioactivity which is more of primordial radionuclides.

Study Design: A total number of nine soil samples were randomly collected for this study. The randomness was in order to represent over 90% of the sample population of different mines in Wurno LGA, Sokoto state for the analysis of gamma-ray spectrometry of High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector coupled to a Multi-Channel Analyzer (MCA).

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Physics, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria, between August 2015 and June 2016.

Methodology: The concentrations of the radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) were ascertained through a high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry of HPGe detector coupled with a Multi-Channel Analyzer, Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics (CASP), Government College University (GCU), Lahore, Pakistan. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the soil samples were obtained and used to calculate the radiological parameters ( Raeq, Hex, Hin, DAbs and Deff ) in order to assess the radiological impacts on the inhabitants.

Results: The mean activity concentrations for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the soil samples were found to be 58.34, 53.76 and 679.70 Bqkg-1 while the radiological hazards parameters revealed mean values of 187.55 Bqkg-1, 0.51, 0.66, 87.77 nGy.h-1 and 107.64 μScyr -1 for Raeq, Hex, Hin, DAbs and Deff respectively. These were compared with the results of similar studies conducted elsewhere and around the world. It was noticed that 40K contributes the highest level of radioactivity in this study which could enhance the amount of background radiation received by the population in the study area. The activity concentration unveiled from the soil samples were considerably lower for 226Ra and 232Th when compared to the activity of 40K. The mean value of the doseused to calculate the radiological parameters calculations shows that an elevated exposure to radioactivity by the inhabitants around this mine is eminent.

Conclusion: Cancer and various forms of ailment due to radioactivity exposure are further anticipated for the workers in the pits and the dwelling communities.