ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY AND RADIOLOGICAL RISKS IN SOIL OF NUMBUPI MINING SITE IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA: PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

  • Jibril Musa Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • Abdulsalam Shehu Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • Olubunmi O. Aregbe University of Minnesota, USA
  • Abdullahi A. Abubakar Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • Nuraddeen N. Garba Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • Usman Adamu Kaduna State University
  • Aliyu Muhammad Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • Abdulkadir Mukhtar Federal University of Transportation, Daura
  • Abdullahi M. Vatsa Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • Usman M. Kankara Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • Yamusa A. Yamusa Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Keywords: Soil contamination, Natural radioactivity, Radiological hazards, Gamma spectrometry, Dose assessment, Hazard index

Abstract

The study was conducted in Numbupi, a gold-mining settlement in Chanchaga Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria. The area features lowland topography surrounded by rock formations and is characterized by open-pit mining practices. The study uses gamma spectrometry with a sodium iodide (NaI (Tl)) detector to assess the natural radioactivity concentrations of Ra, Th, and K in seven soil samples collected from the Numbupi Mining Site in Niger State, Nigeria. The mean activity concentrations of Ra (85.81 18.32 Bq/kg), Th (15.84 8.21 Bq/kg), and K (213.41 89.67 Bq/kg) were calculated and compared with world mean values. A high K concentration in Sample 5 (324.45 Bq/kg) is likely driven by anthropogenic sources, potassium fertilizer application, as it is a well-documented contributor to K enrichment, and natural (alluvial) interactions, while elevated Ra concentration in Samples 1 (136.70 Bq/kg) and 7 (120.72 Bq/kg) correlated with local granitic geology. The following radiological health parameters were calculated: radium equivalent activity (124.90 42.56 Bq/kg), absorbed dose rate (58.11 18.23 nGy/h), annual effective dose equivalent (0.36 0.12 mSv/y), and hazard indices (Hex = 0.34 0.12, Hin = 0.57 0.22). The observed correlations between natural radionuclides (Ra, Th, and K) in the analyzed soil samples reflect complex geological and anthropogenic interactions. The study revealed a strong positive correlation between Th and K (r = +0.85), primarily driven by Samples 5 and 7, indicating that soils with higher thorium concentrations also tend to have elevated potassium levels. All the calculated values were found to be well below international safety...

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Published
2025-05-31
How to Cite
Musa, J., Shehu, A., Aregbe, O. O., Abubakar, A. A., Garba, N. N., Adamu, U., Muhammad, A., Mukhtar, A., Vatsa, A. M., Kankara, U. M., & Yamusa, Y. A. (2025). ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY AND RADIOLOGICAL RISKS IN SOIL OF NUMBUPI MINING SITE IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA: PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS. FUDMA JOURNAL OF SCIENCES, 9(5), 87 - 96. https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2025-0905-3588