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Contamination and Pollution of Soil, Water and Edible Plant by the Concentration of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th and Associated Radiological Parameters of Jos East and Jos South, Plateau State, Nigeria. |
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PP: 1-7 |
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doi:10.18576/jrna/080101
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Author(s) |
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J. Waida,
U. Rilwan,
U. Rilwan,
J. M. Sawuta,
J. M. Sawuta,
Peter E. Ojike,
Efe Omita,
R. Rebecca,
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Abstract |
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| Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) refers to all the radionuclides that exist in the environment naturally, which are the primordial radionuclides 40K, 232Th and 226Ra, and their decay products which are present in varying amounts within the earth crust. This study reports the extent of contamination and pollution of soil, water and edible plant by the concentration of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th and associated radiological parameters of Jos East and Jos South artisanal tin mining areas in Plateau State, Nigeria. The results showed that the contamination factors of Soil in Jos East have the total values in trend with 232Th (1.145) > 40K (0.779) > 226Ra (0.729) while that of Jos South have the total values in trend with 226Ra (0.914) > 232Th (0.914) > 40K (0.816). The contamination factors of water in Jos East have the total values in trend with 232Th (1.116) > 40K (0.756) > 226Ra (0.696) while that of Jos South has the total values in trend with 232Th (0.890) > 226Ra (0.889) > 40K (0.791). The contamination factors of Edible Plants in Jos East have the total values in trend with 232Th (1.088) > 40K (0.731) > 226Ra (0.662) while that of Edible Plants in Jos South have the total values in trend with 226Ra (0.925) > 232Th (0.870) > 40K (0.859). The pollution load index of radioactive trace elements from soil samples of Jos East is in decreasing order trend with 232Th (3.985) > 40K (0.023) > 226Ra (0.013) with the total value of 1.340, on the other hand, that of Jos South is in decreasing order trend with 226Ra (0.328) > 232Th (0.172) > 40K (0.043) with the total value of 0.181. The pollution load index of radioactive trace elements from water samples of Jos East is in decreasing order trend with 232Th (2.910) > 40K (0.015) > 226Ra (0.007) with the total value of 0.977, on the other hand, that of Jos South is in decreasing order trend with 226Ra (0.130) > 232Th (0.077) > 40K (0.018) with the total value of 0.120. The pollution load index of radioactive trace elements from edible plant samples of Jos East is in decreasing order trend with 232Th (2.107) > 40K (0.009) > 226Ra (0.004) with the total value of 0.707, on the other hand, that of Jos South is in decreasing order trend with 226Ra (0.130) > 232Th (0.077) > 40K (0.018) with the total value of 0.075. Based on the results presented, the soil, water and edible plants in Jos East is moderately contaminated and highly polluted with Thorium-232 (232Th) but less contaminated with Radium-226 (226Ra) and Potassium-40 (40K). Meanwhile, Jos South have less contaminated soil for both Thorium-232 (232Th), Radium-226 (226Ra) and Potassium-40 (40K) considering the World Health Organization recommended limit of CF < 1. Therefore, it can be concluded that the soil, water and plants in the Jos East are moderately contaminated and highly polluted, which calls for serious concern and regulatory control. |
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