NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT
Journal of the Faculties of Science and Agriculture, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
ISSN: 1119-9008
DOI: 10.5987/UJ-NJSE
Email: njse@universityjournals.org
RADIOLOGICAL IMPACT OF USING NIGERIAN DOLERITE (DIABASE) AS A CON- STRUCTION MATERIAL
DOI: 10.5987/UJ-NJSE.17.081.3 | Article Number: D5624E6 | Vol.10 (3) - December 2011
Author: Mokobia C. E.
The radiological impact of using natural dolerite as a construction material in Nigeria has been investigated by determining the natural radioactivity in dolerite samples collected from South West Nigeria. Gamma spectrometric measurements were carried out using a well -calibrated highly effi- cient Sodium doped with Iodide detector NaI (TL). Results show that the mean specific activities of 226Ra, 228Ra and 40K contained in this mineral varied from 50.5 – 52.0, 51.9 – 52.3 and 463.1 – 467.0 Bqkg-1 respectively. An external hazard index of 0.4 and a mean annual effective dose equivalent of 0.1 mSvy-1 were obtained. Since the hazard index is less than unity and the deter- mined dose equivalent below the internationally recommended dose equivalent limit of 1mSvy-1 for members of the public, it is concluded that Nigerian dolerite is a radiological friendly construc- tion (engineering) material.
Adesanmi, C.A., Balogun, F.A., Fasasi, M.K., Tubosun, I.A. and Oladipo, A.A. (2000). A semi-empirical formula for HpGe detector efficiency calibra- tion”. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 249: 607.
Ahmed, N.K. (2004). Natural Radioactivity of Ground and Drinking Water in Some Areas of Upper Egypt. Turkish Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sci- ence. 28: 345 – 354.
Avwiri, G.O., Tchokossa, P. and Mokobia, C.E. (2007). Natural Radionuclides in Borehole Water in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Radiation Protection Do- simetry,. 123 (4): 509-514
Balogun, F.A., Mokobia, C.E., Fasasi, M.K. and Ogundare, F.A. (2003). Natural Radioactivity associated with bituminous coal mining in Nigeria. Nuclear Instru- ments and Methods in Physics Research A 505: 444 – 448.
Bell, F. G. and Jermy, C.A. (2000). The geo- technical character of some South Afri- can dolerites, especially their strength and durability. Quarterly Journal of En- gineering Geology & Hydrogeology 33 (1): 59-76.
El – Dine, N.W., EL-Shershaby, A., Ahmed, F. and Abdel-Haleem, A. (2001). Meas- urement of radioactivity and radon exha- lation rate in different kinds of marble and granites. Applied Radiation and Iso- topes 55 (6): 853-860.
Farai, I.P. and Jibiri, N.N. (2000). Baseline Studies of Terrestrial Outdoor Gamma Dose Rate Levels in Nigeria. Radiation Protection Dosimetry. 88 (3): 247 – 254.
IAEA (1989). Measurement of Radionuclides in Food and the Environment. A Guide- book. International atomic Energy Agency, Vienna.
Ibraheim, N.M., AbdelGhana, A.H., Shawky, S.M., Ashraf, E.M. and Fa- rouk, M.A. (1993). Measurement of Radioactivity Levels in Soil in the Nile Delta and Middle Egypt. Health Phys- ics. 64: 620 – 627.
ICRP (1991). Radiation Protection. Publica- tion 60. 1990. Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, Ann. ICRP 21 (1 – 3)
Khater, A.E.M., Higgy, R.H. and Pimpl, M. (2001). Radiological impacts of natural radioactivity in Abu – Tartor phosphate deposits, Egypt. Journal of Environ- mental Radioactivity. 55: 255 - 267
Mokobia, C.E., Tchokossa, P., Olomo, J.B. and Balogun, F.A. (2003). Assessment of the Natural Radioactivity Content of some Liquid Paints Available in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Physics. 15(1): 14-16.
Mokobia, C. E. (2004a). Natural Radioactiv- ity in Nigerian Functional Coal Mines. M.Phil thesis, Obafemi Awolowo Uni- versity, Ile- Ife.
Mokobia, C.E. (2004b). The effect of mois- ture on 222Rn Emanation. Journal of Sci- ence and Technology Research. 3 (1):
71-73.
Mokobia, C.E., Adebiyi, F.M., Akpan, I., Olise, F.S. and Tchokossa, P. (2006). Radioassay of prominent Nigerian fossil fuels using gamma and TXRF spectros- copy. Fuel. 85: 1811-1814.
Ngachin, M., Garavagila, M., Glovani, C., Nourreddine, A., Kwato, N., Scruzzi, E. and Lagos, L. (2008). 226Ra, 232Th and 40K contents and radon exhalation rate from materials used for construction and decoration in Cameroon. Journal of. Radiological Protection. 28(3): 369-378
Ogundare, F.O., Balogun, F.A., Olowofela, J.O., Mokobia, C.E. and Fasunwon, O.O. (2006a). Thermoluminescence characteristics of natural dolerite. Nu- clear Instruments and Methods in Phys- ics Research B. 243: 156- 160.
Ogundare, F.O., Mokobia, C.E. and Balo- gun, F.A. (2006b). Kinetic study of the thermoluminescence glow curve of natu- ral dolerite. Radiation Effects & Defects in Solids. 161 (7): 395-400
Research Machines (2006). Dolerite. Heli- con Publishing division Research Ma- chines Plc. http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/ m0015239.htm
Tufail, M., Ahmad, N., Zafar, M.S., Sid- diqui, M.S., Sarwar, M.S., Ali, S. and Almakky, S. (1993). Gamma activity in Lahore; Pakistani building materials. Arabian Journal of Science and Engi- neering. 18 (3): 353 – 363.
Tufail, M., Rashid, T., Mahmood, A.B. and Ahmad, N. (1994). Radiation doses in Pakistani houses. Science and Environ- ment. 142: 171 – 177.
Tufial, M., Iqbal, M. and Mirza, S. M. (2000). Radiation doses due to natural radioactivity in Pakistan marble. Radio- protection. 35 (3): 299 – 310.
Turhan, S., Baykan, U. N. and Sen, K. (2008). Measurement of the natural ra- dioactivity in building materials used in Ankara and assessment of external doses. Journal of Radiological Protec- tion.. 28 (1): 83-91
UNSCEAR (1982). Ionizing radiation: Sources and Biological Effects. Report to the General assembly, New York.
UNSCEAR (1988). Sources, effects and risks of ionization radiation. Report to the General Assembly with Annexes, New York.
WNA (2003) World Nuclear Association sym- posium on naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). Energy Sustain Development. World Nuclear Associa- tion, London.