Dispersion of gamma dose rates and natural radionuclides in the coastal environments of the Unumherin community in Niger Delta

AbstractThe outdoor gamma dose rates and the activity concentrations of potassium-40, uranium-238, and thorium-232 within the study area were carried out using calibrated hand-held gamma detector (RS-125 gamma spectrometer) and NaI(Tl) gamma spectroscopy. The in-situ measurement results of the gamma dose rate indicate that the hotspot is at location 4 with a value of 100 nGyh-1. The results from the NaI(Tl) gamma detector revealed the highest activity concentrations of potassium-40, uranium-238, and thorium-232 to be 288.09, 96.49, and 136.12 Bqkg−1 for sediments and 257.31, 66.93, and 96.57 Bqkg for water, respectively. The highest mean activity concentration of potassium-40 and uranium-238 was observed in Catfish with values of 151.87 and 38.00 Bqkg−1, whereas the highest value for the activity of thorium-232 was observed in Tilo Fish with a value of 89.02 Bqkg-1. In comparison, all the observed values are higher than the population-weighted average of 420.00, 32.00, and 45.00 Bqkg−1 for potassium-40, uranium-238, and thorium-232 according to UNSCEAR. Geologically, this may be attributed to the marine incursion of regional tectonic subsidence during transgression. Statistically, the correlation results confirmed that the enhanced outdoor dose rates at the coastline environment were caused mainly by uranium-238, followed by thorium-232 and then potassium-40 in magnitude. The mean hazard indices calculated for the samples were also observed to be within the global average values recommended by ICRP

The CUPID (Cultural and Psychosocial Influences on Disability) study: methods of data collection and characteristics of study sample

Background: The CUPID (Cultural and Psychosocial Influences on Disability) study was established to explore the hypothesis that common musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and associated disability are importantly influenced by culturally determined health beliefs and expectations. This paper describes the methods of data collection and various characteristics of the study sample.Methods/Principal Findings: standardised questionnaire covering musculoskeletal symptoms, disability and potential risk factors, was used to collect information from 47 samples of nurses, office workers, and other (mostly manual) workers in 18 countries from six continents. In addition, local investigators provided data on economic aspects of employment for each occupational group. Participation exceeded 80% in 33 of the 47 occupational groups, and after pre-specified exclusions, analysis was based on 12,426 subjects (92 to 1018 per occupational group). As expected, there was high usage of computer keyboards by office workers, while nurses had the highest prevalence of heavy manual lifting in all but one country. There was substantial heterogeneity between occupational groups in economic and psychosocial aspects of work; three- to five-fold variation in awareness of someone outside work with musculoskeletal pain; and more than ten-fold variation in the prevalence of adverse health beliefs about back and arm pain, and in awareness of terms such as “repetitive strain injury” (RSI).Conclusions/Significance: the large differences in psychosocial risk factors (including knowledge and beliefs about MSDs) between occupational groups should allow the study hypothesis to be addressed effectivel