Abstract
The study evaluate gross activities of alpha and beta emitting radionuclides present in naturally occurring water bodies in Pankshin area of Plateau state covered by 90 201 011 North. 90 271 011 East. Ten (10) groundwater samples comprising of five (5) well water and five (5) borehole water were drawn randomly. The samples were analysed and counted for gross alpha and beta activities using Gas filled proportional Counter (MPC 2000 Dual Phosphor). The results showed that the mean value for gross alpha and beta in well water are 0.01662 ± 0.004 Bq/l and 5.8584 ± 0.1994Bg/l respectively. For borehole water, the mean value for gross alpha and beta activity are 0.00514±0.003 Bq/L and 2.1358 ± 0.212Bq/l. Most of the samples show lower values than the WHO guide line value of 0.5Bq/l for alpha activity and higher activities above the guideline value of 1.0 Bq/l for beta activity. The annual committed effective dose [CED] to infants, children and adults were estimated. The mean CED due to intake of well water are 0.00666 mSv/yr , 0.01334 mSv/yr, 0.26668mSv/yr, 2.3534mSv/yr, 2.27312mSv/yr, 9.4056mSv/yr and the mean CED due to intake of borehole are 0.00204mSv/yr, 0.10414mSv/yr, 0.0026mSv/yr s 0.85752 mSv/yr, 1.71504 mSv/yr and 3.4301 mSv/yr respectively for all peer groups. The results shared elevated values for beta activity in most of the location above the ICRP acceptable standard of 0.lmSv/y. It can be concluded that there is a significant radiological hazards to the general public in these locations which may be attributed to the geology and the direct contact with water by the radionuclides in the study area
Key words: Activity concentration, groundwater, radionuclides.
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