Assessment of Gamma-Radiation Levels in Selected Oil Spilled Areas in Rivers State, Nigeria

A prelude radiological impact assessment of oil spillage on the oil spilled environment, those saddled with the responsibility of cleaning the spilled crude and the host/nearest communities residents in Rivers State Nigeria has been examined in-situ, using radiation meters (Digilert 100 nuclear radiation meter) and a geographical positioning system (GPS). Readings were taken twice in a month for three months in the five different oil spilled site and one measurement taken at a control site where there is no oil spillage but within oil bearing community. The average radiation values in all the oil spilled site is 0.019±0.006mRh-1, this is far above the 0.011±0.003mRh-1obtained for the control and ICRP 0.013±0.005mRh-1 world background levels. The average equivalent dose rate obtained in all the five studied site is 1.6mSvy-1 while the dose rate in the control is 0.93mSvy-1. The results showed that all the oil spilled sites yearly equivalent dose rate exceeded the 1mSvy-1 maximum permissible limit recommend for the public and non-nuclear industrial environment by International Council on Radiological Protection (ICRP,1999). All the oil spilled environment radiation levels exceeded the normal world average BIR level of 0.013mRh-1and other reported values in similar environment. This shows that the oil spilled environment have been impacted radiologically. This will pose some long-term health side effects on the clean-up workers and residents of the host communities. Interim proactive measures are recommended while further and a detail study is ongoing

Gross \u3b1 and \u3b2 Activity Concentration and Estimation of Adults and Infants Dose intake in Surface and Ground Water of Ten Oil Fields Environment in Western Niger Delta of Nigeria

The oil and gas rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria is characterized by environmental degradation leading to environmental pollution from oil and gas activities. This study examined the gross \u3b1 and \u3b2 activity in thirty (river/stream, well and tap) water samples collected from ten oil fields in the Western Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The counting system employed in this analysis is the Gas-flow proportional counter {Eurisys Measure IN20 low- background multiple (eight) channel counter}. Gross alpha activity concentration range from 0.01\ub10.002 to 0.7\ub10.01 (0.15\ub10.003) Bql-1, 0.01\ub10.003 to 0.5\ub10.01 (0.1\ub10.003)Bql-1 and 0.02\ub10.001 to 35.1\ub11.1 (4.1\ub10.1) Bql-1 while beta activity concentration ranged from 1.1\ub10.04 to 13.2\ub10.1 (6.0\ub10.1) Bql-1, 0.7\ub10.1 to 54.7\ub11.3 (8.9\ub10.2)Bql-1 and 0.7\ub10.03 to 151.2\ub11.8 (40.1\ub10.9)Bql-1 for well, tap and river waters respectively. Correlation value between \u3b1 and \u3b2 activities in well, tap and river water is 0.025, 0.047 and 0.512 respectively. The results show that except for the alpha activity in the tap water samples, the average natural activity concentrations of \u3b1- and \u3b2-emitting radionuclides in the samples are slightly above the WHO recommended limit. For all samples the gross \u3b2 activities are higher than the corresponding gross \u3b1 activities. The mean effective equivalent dose intake per year due to alpha activity in the water samples for adults and infants are: 76.4\ub11.8 and 20.9\ub155\u3bcSvy-1, 54.6\ub11.3 and 14.9\ub10.4\u3bcSvy-1, and 2118\ub170 and 584\ub119.2\u3bcSvy-1 in well, tap, and river water samples respectively. The results obtained for dose intake are below the WHO recommended reference level of 0.1mSvy-1, except for the water sample from Uzere river. This study indicates that the water sources evaluated, especially the rivers, are contaminated radiologically. @JASE

Radiological impact of oil and Gas Activities in selected oil fields in Production Land Area of Delta State, Nigeria

A study of the radiological impact of oil and gas exploration activities in the production land area of Delta State has been carried out in-situ using two synchronized and calibrated radiation meters (Digilert 50 and 100) and a geographical positioning system (GPS). Ten oil field facilities were studied. At each facility, nine sampling locations and their host communities were evaluated making a total of 100 study points. Measured exposure rate in the oil field facilities ranged from 0.011\ub10.003mRh-1 in Evwreni camp site to 0.031\ub10.01mRh-1 at the Otorogu gas plant. Mean field exposure rates/equivalent dose rates ranged from 0.016\ub10.006mRh-1(0.839\ub10.34mSvy-1) to 0.0213\ub10.008mRh-1(1.134\ub10.44mSvy-1). In the host communities the values ranged from 0.0115\ub10.003mRh-1 (0.612\ub10.16mSvy-1) in Evwreni community to 0.021\ub10.007mRh-1 (1.117\ub10.37mSvy-1) in Otujeremi town, while for the control study area the value obtained was 0.009\ub10.002mRh-1(0.479\ub10.11mSvy-1). The results show that the radiation levels for the Ughelli East, Kokori, Eriemu, Evwreni, Eriemu, Oweh, Olomoro-Oleh oil and gas fields are within the 1mSvy-1 maximum permissible limit recommended for the public and non-nuclear industrial environment, while the levels for the fields at Otorogu, Ughelli West, Afiesere and Uzere West and East and the host communities of Olomoro, Uzere and Emeragha exceeded the maximum recommended value, an indication that the oil fields and host communities environment have been impacted radiologically. However, these results obtained may not have immediate health hazard, but will pose some long-term health side effects on the staff working in the facilities and residents of the host communities. Interim proactive measures are recommended @JASE

Gross α and β Activity Concentration and Estimation of Adults and Infants Dose intake in Surface and Ground Water of Ten Oil Fields Environment in Western Niger Delta of Nigeria

The oil and gas rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria is characterized by environmental degradation leading to environmental pollution from oil and gas activities. This study examined the gross α and β activity in thirty (river/stream, well and tap) water samples collected from ten oil fields in the Western Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The counting system employed in this analysis is the Gas-flow proportional counter {Eurisys Measure IN20 low- background multiple (eight) channel counter}. Gross alpha activity concentration range from 0.01±0.002 to 0.7±0.01 (0.15±0.003) Bql-1, 0.01±0.003 to 0.5±0.01 (0.1±0.003)Bql-1 and 0.02±0.001 to 35.1±1.1 (4.1±0.1) Bql-1 while beta activity concentration ranged from 1.1±0.04 to 13.2±0.1 (6.0±0.1) Bql-1, 0.7±0.1 to 54.7±1.3 (8.9±0.2)Bql-1 and 0.7±0.03 to 151.2±1.8 (40.1±0.9)Bql-1 for well, tap and river waters respectively. Correlation value between α and β activities in well, tap and river water is 0.025, 0.047 and 0.512 respectively. The results show that except for the alpha activity in the tap water samples, the average natural activity concentrations of α- and β-emitting radionuclides in the samples are slightly above the WHO recommended limit. For all samples the gross β activities are higher than the corresponding gross α activities. The mean effective equivalent dose intake per year due to alpha activity in the water samples for adults and infants are: 76.4±1.8 and 20.9±55μSvy-1, 54.6±1.3 and 14.9±0.4μSvy-1, and 2118±70 and 584±19.2μSvy-1 in well, tap, and river water samples respectively. The results obtained for dose intake are below the WHO recommended reference level of 0.1mSvy-1, except for the water sample from Uzere river. This study indicates that the water sources evaluated, especially the rivers, are contaminated radiologically. @JASE

Radiological impact of oil and Gas Activities in selected oil fields in Production Land Area of Delta State, Nigeria

A study of the radiological impact of oil and gas exploration activities in the production land area of Delta State has been carried out in-situ using two synchronized and calibrated radiation meters (Digilert 50 and 100) and a geographical positioning system (GPS). Ten oil field facilities were studied. At each facility, nine sampling locations and their host communities were evaluated making a total of 100 study points. Measured exposure rate in the oil field facilities ranged from 0.011±0.003mRh-1 in Evwreni camp site to 0.031±0.01mRh-1 at the Otorogu gas plant. Mean field exposure rates/equivalent dose rates ranged from 0.016±0.006mRh-1(0.839±0.34mSvy-1) to 0.0213±0.008mRh-1(1.134±0.44mSvy-1). In the host communities the values ranged from 0.0115±0.003mRh-1 (0.612±0.16mSvy-1) in Evwreni community to 0.021±0.007mRh-1 (1.117±0.37mSvy-1) in Otujeremi town, while for the control study area the value obtained was 0.009±0.002mRh-1(0.479±0.11mSvy-1). The results show that the radiation levels for the Ughelli East, Kokori, Eriemu, Evwreni, Eriemu, Oweh, Olomoro-Oleh oil and gas fields are within the 1mSvy-1 maximum permissible limit recommended for the public and non-nuclear industrial environment, while the levels for the fields at Otorogu, Ughelli West, Afiesere and Uzere West and East and the host communities of Olomoro, Uzere and Emeragha exceeded the maximum recommended value, an indication that the oil fields and host communities environment have been impacted radiologically. However, these results obtained may not have immediate health hazard, but will pose some long-term health side effects on the staff working in the facilities and residents of the host communities. Interim proactive measures are recommended @JASE

Determination of radioactivity levels in Akhisar, Gordes, Golmarmara and Sindirgi regions, Western Turkey

WOS: 000330780800008In this study, radioactivity measurements in the environment of Akhisar, Golmarmara, Gordes and Sindirgi regions in Western Turkey were investigated in order to evaluate the implications of any excess radioactivity in the environment of geological formation. The radioactivity concentrations of K-40, U-238 and Th-232 radionuclides in the soil samples were measured by a NaI(Tl) gamma spectrometer system, and the radium activity concentrations in the water samples were also analyzed by an ZnS(Ag) alpha counter by the collector chamber method. The radioactivity of K-40, U-238 and Th-232 in soils ranged 2.80-2,347.77, 9.90-256.19 and 9.66-106.53 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The activity of Ra-226 in the water samples ranged from 0.03 Bq L-1 (0.89pCi/L) to 0.80 Bq L-1 (21.58pCi/L). In addition, the external terrestrial gamma dose rate in air (nGy h(-1)), annual effective dose rate (mSv year(-1)) and radium equivalent activity (Bq kg(-1)) were calculated and compared with international standard values.Celal Bayar University Scientific Research Projects Coordination (BAP)Celal Bayar University [2010/10]In this study, Celal Bayar University Scientific Research Projects Coordination (BAP) No. 2010/10 with the Project is supported