Evaluation of the gross alpha and beta radionuclide activity within some selected oil producing fields in rivers state, Nigeria.

摘要

The gross alpha and gross beta radionuclide activity concentrations in some selected oil fields within Rivers State, Nigeria, have been evaluated. Soil and water samples were collected and analyzed for gross alpha and beta activity using an IN-20 model gas-flow proportional counter. The results obtained showed that the mean gross alpha and beta activity for water samples ranged between 0.11±0.07 Bq/l to 1.21±0.17 Bq/l and 0.21±0.1 Bq/l to 2.03±0.26 Bq/l respectively, while the mean gross alpha and beta activity for soil samples ranged between 152.11±61.67 Bq/kg to 322±121.67 Bq/kg and 311.15±83.3 Bq/kg to 615.5±178.83 Bq/kg respectively. These results showed an elevation over the activity of the control samples and the World Health Organization standard limit of 0.1Bq/l and 1Bq/l for gross alpha and beta activity respectively. This elevation could be attributed to incessant oil spillages encountered within the surveyed areas. Oil operating firms should be more proactive in terms of curtailing the level of environmental degradation especially, as it has to do with perturbation of the background ionizing radiation of their areas of operation.