Assessment of Soil to Cassava Transfer Factor of Radionuclides in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria

Background: This research was conducted to estimate the activity concentration level of 40K, 238U and 232Th in soil and cassava and determine the transfer factor from soil to cassava in Ughelli North, Delta State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: These were examined using gamma spectrometry and considering a lead-shielded 3 x 3inch coaxial type Sodium Iodide Thallium doped detector. Results: The mean activity concentrations of 40K, 238U and 232Th are 45.49 ± 4.28 BqKg−1, 3.15 ± 0.77 BqKg−1 and 0.56 ± 0.06 BqKg−1 respectively in soil samples and 134.08 ± 11.59 BqKg−1, 3.89 ± 0.93 BqKg−1 and 0.81 ± 0.09 BqKg−1 correspondingly in cassava samples. The mean transfer factor of 40K, 238U and 232Th from soil to cassava are 3.44 ± 0.75, 1.94 ± 0.32 and 1.34 ± 0.54 respectively. Peak values of the TF were noted as 8.52 for 40K at U18, D18, 25.58 for 238U at U12, D12 and 5.71 for 232Th at U11, D11. Conclusion: The activity concentration of 40K, 238U and 232Th in the area are lower than the world average values. Consequently, it will not pose any radiological hazard if consumed. The high value of Transfer factor is attributed to the richness of the organic matter in the soil and may indicate high ability to transfer radionuclides in the soil to food crops but from the concentration information, these radionuclides present in the soil are low as well as annual effective doses. There is no radiological risk of ingestion

Discriminant Function and Critical Shear Stress Investigations Differentiate Depositional Environment in the Western Part of Nigeria

يعد التحليل التمييزي الخطي ضروريًا للتحقيق في بيئة ترسب الرواسب أو النقل. تم أخذ 14 عينة [من المواقع A1 و A2 و OL1 و OL2 و O1 و O2 و AG1 و AG2 و A3 و A4 و AG3 و AG4 و O3 و O4] من أربع قرى في ولاية كوارا للدراسة. تم فحص المعلمات النسيجية أولاً من نتيجة تحليل حجم الحبوب الذي تم إجراؤه باستخدام شبكة غربال قياسية ألمانية مع شاكر. عززت هذه النتائج تحديد إجهاد القص الحرج وكذلك تحليل التمايز الخطي. يمثل إجهاد القص الحرج نقل الرواسب وترسبها بما في ذلك بيئاتها، وتم الحصول على النتائج التالية: يتراوح إجهاد القص الحرج من 0.33 نيوتن متر إلى 1.31 نانومتر -2. أعلى قيمة (1.31065877 Nm-2) لوحظت في OL2 وأدناها (0.32766469 Nm-2) هي من بيئات A3 و O4. يختلف الضغط الذي يدور أو ينقل الجسيم فعليًا في حدود 0.1 نانومتر -2 إلى 0.3 نانومتر -2 باستثناء بيئات OL2 و AG3 التي تبلغ قيمتها حوالي 0.4. يوضح التحليل التمييزي الخطي أن الثمالة قد ترسبت من خلال التأثيرات الجماعية للبحرية ، وكذلك تلك الناتجة عن الأنشطة النهرية بسبب تأثير التعكر في بيئة الشاطئ. تؤكد المؤامرة التمايزية متعددة المتغيرات بقوة ، بيئة الترسب كشاطئ في هذه المنطقة.Linear discriminant analysis is necessary to investigate the environment of deposition of sediment or transport. 14 samples [from locations A1, A2, OL1, OL2, O1, O2, AG1, AG2, A3, A4, AG3, AG4, O3 and O4] were taken from four villages in Kwara state for the study. Textural parameters were first investigated from the result of grain size analysis performed using German standard sieve set of mesh with shaker. These results enhanced the determination of critical shear stress as well as linear discriminant analysis. The critical shear stress accounts for sediment transport and deposition including their environments, the following results were obtained: The critical shear stress ranges from 0.33Nm-2 to 1.31Nm-2. The highest value (1.31065877 Nm-2) is observed in OL2 and the lowest (0.32766469 Nm-2) is from the environments of A3 and O4. The stress which rolls or actually transports the particle varies within 0.1 Nm-2 to 0.3 Nm-2 except in OL2 and AG3 environments whose value is approximately 0.4. The linear discriminant analysis shows that the dregs were deposited by collective effects of marine, as well as those of fluvial activities due to the influence of turbidity in the beach environment. The multivariant discriminant plot confirms strongly, the environment of deposition as beach in this region