Soil radioactivity and radiotoxic risks of uranium in drinking water. A case study of Jos Plateau, Nigeria

Protection and assessment of any radiation pollution resulting from the use and disposal of radioactive materials to the large extent depend on the knowledge of natural radioactivity level of an environment. This work determined the activity concentration of terrestrial radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in top soil samples of Jos Plateau using high resolution HPGe detector. Inductive Coupled Plasma (ICP) Mass Spectrometer was used to determine the chemical concentrations of uranium (238U) in drinking water samples collected from the area.  The activity concentration of 226Ra varied between 34±1 and 1006±18 Bq/kg, 67±2 and 1695±37 Bq kg−1 for 232Th and between 67±4 and 2465±45 Bq/kg for 40K. Chemical concentration of 238U in water samples was found to vary from 1.4 to 35 μg/ L. The values of radiological risks due to radioactivity and chemical risks of mortality and morbidity due concentration of 238U in drinking water were estimated. The risk values for some samples are found to be within safe limits provided by health and environmental protection agencies (ICRP, WHO and USEPA). The radiometric data could be useful for geochemical exploration and diagnosis and prognosis of uranium persuaded diseases for the local inhabitants in the study area

Assessment of natural radionuclides at Kinta River, Malaysia: relationship between the turbidity to uranium and thorium concentrations

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the turbidity to uranium and thorium concentrations. Since the radionuclides analysis is complex and time consuming, turbidity monitoring on river is proposed to be an indirect indicator for uranium and thorium concentration. Eighteen water samples were collected and turbidity measurements were conducted at several locations from Kinta River. The concentration of uranium and thorium were analyzed using inducted coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The concentrations of thorium were varied from 44 ng L?1 to 787 ng L?1 while the concentration of uranium varied from 45 ng L?1 to 371 ng L?1. Statistical analyses were applied to determine the relation between turbidity and concentrations of uranium and thorium at Kinta River. The correlation coefficients (R) show a strongly correlation, with R values of 0.915 and 0.881 for turbidity with concentrations of uranium and thorium, respectively

Determinants and Knowledge of Iron Deficiency Anemia and its Impact among Pregnant Women Attending University Hospital in Mukalla, Yemen

The prevalence of anemia among pregnant women, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is still higher than 51% in developing countries, and the most common cause is iron deficiency, which has adverse effects on maternal and child health. The purpose of this study is to determine the knowledge and attitude of pregnant women attending the University Hospital in Mukalla regarding iron deficiency anemia and its impact. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted on 320 Yemeni pregnant women from January 1, 2021, to June 30, 2021. Data was collected by a predesigned self-administered questionnaire in the antenatal clinic at the time of the routine antenatal check-up. The results showed that the mean age of participants was 26.8 ±1.73 years. The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was high (81%). (23.4%) of the participants know that anemia in pregnancy is present when the hemoglobin concentration is 11 g/dl or less. Most of the participants (72.2%) know that anemia may affect the health of the fetus and cause complications for the mothers. Only (16.6%) of them know that iron tablets are free of cost in primary health care centers and government hospitals. (85.3%) of them know that iron tablets should be taken during pregnancy in spite of a healthy diet. (23.1%) of the participants took iron supplementation irregularly due to drug cost (32.8%). Only (20%) of them get information regarding anemia from health workers. Anemia was statistically lower in pregnant women with regular intake of iron supplements and those taking special diets during pregnancy. The prevalence of anemia in women who attend University hospitals during pregnancy is higher. There is poor knowledge among participants about the preventive measures for iron deficiency anemia. Improving health education about anemia during pregnancy can reduce the prevalence of anemia and improve maternal and fetal outcomes

Thermoluminescence responses of photon- and electron-irradiated lithium potassium borate co-doped with Cu+Mg or Ti+Mg

New glasses Li2CO3–K2CO3–H3BO3 (LKB) co-doped with CuO and MgO, or with TiO2 and MgO, were synthesized by the chemical quenching technique. The thermoluminescence (TL) responses of LKB:Cu,Mg and LKB:Ti,Mg irradiated with 6 MV photons or 6 MeV electrons were compared in the dose range 0.5–4.0 Gy. The standard commercial dosimeter LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-100) was used to calibrate the TL reader and as a reference in comparison of the TL properties of the new materials. The dependence of the responses of the new materials on 60Co dose is linear in the range of 1–1000 Gy. The TL yields of both of the co-doped glasses and TLD-100 are greater for electron irradiation than for photon irradiation. The TL sensitivity of LKB:Ti,Mg is 1.3 times higher than the sensitivity of LKB:Cu,Mg and 12 times less than the sensitivity of TLD-100. The new TL dosimetric materials have low effective atomic numbers, good linearity of the dose responses, excellent signal reproducibility, and a simple glow curve structure. This combination of properties makes them suitable for radiation dosimetry

Strategies to manage electronic waste approaches: an overview in east Asia

The issue of e-waste is becoming an increasingly threatening problem as it contains many toxic materials that can severely harm both human beings and the environment. This problem is expected to worsen if not serious efforts are taken to manage this e-waste. The current research introduced the best strategies and techniques with managerial efforts taken in this regard to deal with the e-waste in East Asia countries. Countries have been using a variety of techniques to deal with this problem namely: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA), Material Flow Analysis (MFA), and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Therefore, these strategies are prosed to work together to insure the best results in dealing with this problem. Moreover, this research involves a systematic and organized review of 308 research articles regarding electronic waste from 2000 to 2017. An analysis of studies dedicated to manage e-waste in East Asia countries was carried out on the basis of certain dimensions, namely, year of publication, journal, country, and subject area. Based on the obtained findings, the most of studies are from environmental science, chemistry, engineering, medicine and an energy area in the rate of (33.8%), (12.3%), (8.8%), (8.4%) and (5.8%) respectively. Furthermore, the findings have shown an increasing trend over recent years from 2010-2017

Strategies to manage electronic waste approaches: an overview in Malaysia

The issue of e-waste is becoming an increasingly threatening problem as it contains many toxic materials that can severely harm both human beings and the environment. This problem is expected to worsen if not serious efforts are taken to manage this e-waste. The current paper introduced quantity of e-waste generated and their negative impact on both environment and human beings in some countries including Malaysia. It also presents the managerial efforts taken in this regard to deal with the e-waste. The current study is an effort to decrease the danger and solve e-waste problems. For that, it utilized different tools such as LCA, MFA, MCA and EPR. Over and above all of these, no matter how well the policies are introduced and implemented benefits will only arise provided end users are prepared to accept introduced policies and adhere to them

NORMs distribution in coastal soils and sediments of River Yobe, north-eastern Nigeria: an evaluation of the potential radiological hazards

A preliminary study which aimed to establish a reference data on naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) for River Yobe has been conducted. Soil and sediment samples were collected along the coastal areas of the river and analyzed to determine the specific activities of NORMs such as 238U, 232Th and 40K. Gamma spectrometry technique using NaI (Tl) detector was employed to determine the specific activities f the natural radionuclides. The mean activity concentration in the soil samples for 238U, 232Th and 40K were found to be 23±1.5, 36±2.5 and 395±9.1Bq kg−1 and for the sediment samples are 60±2.6, 45±3.6 and 324±6.8Bq kg−1 respectively. These values, in some cases exceed the world reference values of 30, 35 and 400 Bq kg−1 for 238U, 232Th and 40K respectively. Parameters of radiological hazard, were also estimated based on specific activity of the radionuclides to assess the radiological impacts due to exposure on the users of the river. The results were found to be within the worldwide recommended safety limits.Keywords: Annual effective dose, NORMs,238U.232Th.40K. River Yob

Determination of surface radiation dose-rate in the environment of Kelantan State, Malaysia

Measurements of environmental surface radiation dose rate in Kelantan state, Malaysia was carried out using a portable hand held radiation survey meter and Global Positioning System (GPS). The surface radiation dose rates ranged from 44 to 500 nGy h-1. The measurements were done based on geology and soil types of the area. The mean radiation dose rate was found to be 209 ± 8 nGy h-1. Few areas of relatively enhanced activity were located in Pasir Mas, Tanah Merah and Jeli districts which have external gamma dose rates between 300 to 500 nGy h_1. An Isodose map of the state was produced using ArcGIS10 software version 10.1. To evaluate the radiological hazard due to terrestrial gamma dose, the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), the mean population weighted dose rate and cancer risk factor were calculated and found to be relative excess lifetime cancer risks were 1.280 mSv y-1, 18 mSv and 1.04×10-3 respectively

Nigeria research reactor-1 : vertical detector efficiency calibration using conventional and semi-empirical approach for large samples NAA implementation

Detector efficiency calibration is mandatory for accurate measurement of induced activity in irradiated samples and for safe operation of the reactor with minimal uncertainty. This paper reported the efficiency calibration of vertically dIpstick High Purity Germanium detector, installed at the Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria for the purpose of large sample Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) using Nigeria research reactor-1 (NIRR-1). The performance of the detector was evaluated for the radioisotope activity measurements during the reactor operation for large samples neutron activation analysis. The detector performance in terms of radioisotopes detection ability was inspected using the standard conventional and semi-empirical approaches. The full energy peak efficiencies were determined at the corresponding energies for three different geometries (source to detector distance of 1, 5 and 10 cm). The semi-empirical approach produced better and precise results that logically rhymed with theory than the traditional approach. Besides that, a consistency in the nature of the graphs and values were evidenced. The determined efficiencies and their corresponding energies revealed encouraging outcome and ensured the successful NAA for large samples of different material compositions

Dosimetric characteristics of a LKB:Cu,Mg solid thermoluminescence detector

We present the main thermoluminescence characteristics of a newly borate glass dosimeter modified with lithium and potassium carbonate (LKB) and co-doped with CuO and MgO. An enhancement of about three times has been shown with the increment of 0.1mol% MgO as a co-dopant impurity. The effects of dose linearity, storage capacity, effective atomic number and energy dose response are studied. The proposed dosimeter shows a simple glow curve, good linearity up to 103 Gy, close effective atomic number and photon energy independence. The current results suggest using the proposed dosimeter in different dosimetric applications