Radioactivity levels and transfer factor for granite mining field in Asa, North-central Nigeria

Natural radioactivity measurement and dose assessment are important aspects of radiation protection. The goal of this study is to validate the previous results obtained from the in-situ measurements in the study area in order to ascertain the level of radiation hazards to the populaces living around the mining site.A3 × 3-inch lead-shielded NaI(Tl) detector was used to measure the activity concentrations of (40)K,(238)U and(232)Thin soil, water and guinea corn grain samples collected from a granite mining field in Asa, Kwara State, North-central Nigeria. The overall mean activity concentrations of (40)K,(238)U and (232)Th are 441.06, 11.51 and 15.42 Bqkg(−1)for the soil samples, 20.67, 0.66, and 0.88 BqL(−1) for the water samples and 214.31, 5.25 and 8.86 Bqkg(−),(1)respectively for the grain samples. The bioaccumulation/transfer factors are 0.49, 0.46 and 0.58 for (40)K,(238)U and (232)Th respectively. The mean values of all the radiological hazard parameters are within the permissible limit recommended by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. Consequently, the risk of indoor and outdoor gamma radiation exposure is comparatively less for these Granite soils. Hence, the results in this study will reference future studies in terms of basic radiological data.