Calibration and Performance Testing of Sodium Iodide, NaI (Tl), Detector at the Food and Environmental Laboratory of the Radiation Protection Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission

The performance testing of a newly acquired sodium iodide detector (NaI), (Tl)) at Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) was investigated by carrying out energy and efficiency calibration on the detector, as well as validation of its calibration. The energy and efficiency calibrations were performed using mixed radionuclides 241 109 57 137 60 standard containing Am, Cd, Co, Cs and Co in the energy range of 60–1333 keV. The energy and efficiency calibration curves obtained compare well with what is available in the literature. Results of the validation of the calibration showed that there were no significance differences between the measured and the calculated activities of the standard radionuclides with activity ratios in the range of 0.90-0.98 and the corresponding percentage deviation in a range of 1.43–10.47%. The average MDA of 238U, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs from background counting rates were estimated to be 0.099 ± 0.055 Bq, 0.061 ± 0.037 Bq, 0.727 ± 0.300 Bq and 0.014 ± 0.006 Bq, respectively

Artificial and Natural Radioactivity Measurements and Radiation Dose Assessment in the Vicinity of Ghana Nuclear Research Reactor-1 (GHARR-1)

Radioactivity concentrations of <sup>226</sup>Ra, <sup>232</sup>Th, <sup>40</sup>K and <sup>137</sup>Cs in soil samples and water sources around the Ghana Research Reactor-1 (GHARR-1) and the immediate surroundings have been measured using gamma spectrometry. The primary aim of the study was to establish baseline radioactivity levels in the environs of GHARR-1. The average activity concentration of <sup>226</sup>Ra, <sup>232</sup>Th, <sup>40</sup>K and <sup>137</sup>Cs were 22.3 ± 1.12 Bq kg<sup>-1</sup>, 49.8 ± 1.60Bq kg-1, 99.60 ± 5.81 Bq kg<sup>-1</sup> and 1.48 ± 0.25 Bq kg<sup>-1</sup> for soil and 0.60 ± 0.11 Bq l<sup>-1</sup>, 2.13 ± 0.21 Bq l<sup>-1</sup>, 10.75 ± 0.84 Bq l<sup>-1</sup> and 0.47 ± 0.05 Bq l<sup>-1</sup>for the water, respectively. The <sup>226</sup>Ra and <sup>232</sup>Th concentrations compare quite well with world averages, whilst the <sup>40</sup>K concentration was lower than the world average. The levels of <sup>137</sup>Cs observed in the samples are within the range of ‘background’  concentrations. The estimated average annual effective doses from external exposure to soil and ingestion of water samples were calculated to be 0.06 mSv and 0.53 mSv, respectively. The estimated outdoor  external gamma dose rate measured in air ranged from 20-430 nGy h<sup>-1</sup> with an average value of 100 nGy h<sup>-1</sup>, which is higher than the world average value of 59 nGy h<sup>-1</sup>. In the case of water samples, the average value was higher than the guidance level of 0.1 mSv y<sup>-1</sup>, as recommended by the European Union and the World Health Organization

Natural radioactivity concentrations in beach sands from some tourist resorts., Research Journal of Environment and Earth Sciences

Abstract: Beaches along the coastlines in Ghana are important holiday destinations for tourists from many countries around the world. The radiological quality of sand from these beaches is very important to assess exposure of the public who use the beaches for recreational purposes and other activities. This study investigates the levels and hazards associated with the U-Th series and 40 K in beach sands from some renowned tourist resorts in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Samples of beach sand from eleven beaches were analyzed using direct gamma-ray spectrometry. The total absorbed dose rate and the annual effective doses were calculated. The radiation hazards and risks associated with the use of the beach sand as construction material were also determined. The results show specific activities in the range 11.0-31.8 Bq/kg for 238 U, 0.5-1. U activity ratios calculated for the beaches is in the range of 0.032-0.053 with an average of 0.045±0.007 and that of the other radionuclides are close to unity, indicating only natural radionuclides were detected in the samples investigated. The results are within the values found in literature and show that the natural radionuclides in samples of the beach sand do not pose any significant risk to tourists and other holiday makers. Sand from the beaches is also safe for use as construction material, indicating the relevance in terms of the radiological quality of the beaches from both human and environmental health view points