Background: Measurement of the radia�on dose distribu�on is important in
assessing the health risk a popula�on and serve as reference in documen�ng
changes to environmental radioac�vity in soil due to man-made ac�vi�es.
Materials and Methods: The ac�vity concentra�on of 238U, 232Th and 40K in
soil samples obtained from different loca�ons in Ajaokuta Local Government
area was measured using Hyper Pure germanium Detec�on System (HPGe).
Results: The calculated average concentra�on of the radionuclides ranged
from 12 ± 1 Bqkg-1 to 59 ± 2 Bqkg-1 for 238U, 14 ± 1 Bqkg-1 to 78 ± 5 Bqkg-1 for
232Th and 49 ± 2 Bqkg-1 to 1272 ± 23 Bqkg-1 for 40K. In order to evaluate the
radiological hazards due to natural radionuclides within Ajaokuta, the
absorbed dose rate, gamma index, radium equivalent and excess life�me
cancer risk were es�mated. According to measured data from the top soil
(0-10 cm), the es�mated radium equivalent (Raeq) ranges from 55.7 Bqkg-1 at
Steel Complex to 253.3 Bqkg-1 obtained from Forest samples. Conclusion: The
mean absorbed dose rate, annual effec�ve dose and gamma radia�on index
evaluated were 66.2 nGyh-1, 81.2 μSvy-1 and 1.05 respec�vely which are
higher than the recommended limit for normal background radia�on. Thus,
we conclude that people living in these loca�ons may be exposed to higher
radia�on