Evaluation of Background Ionizing Radiation and Its’ Associated Health Hazards in Onne Port Complex Port Harcourt

Abstract

Exposure to background ionizing radiation has been a major challenge in the industry and transport sector. This study presents the results of outdoor ambient dose rates in and around Onne port complex, Eleme, Port Harcourt Rivers State, Nigeria. An In-situ measurement of radiation exposure rate was done using well calibrated radiation detector (Radalert-100). From the exposure rate, the absorbed dose and cancer risk were calculated by standard methods. Results showed that the outdoor absorbed dose rates ranged between 165.7 nGy/h to 55.26 nGy/h, while values obtained from ISL, PCL, GLT, GTT, RJOT, JYT, MKT, WST & FST premises are above the UNSCEAR 2008 standard. The calculated excess lifetime cancer risk ranges between 0.509 and 0.17. The study concluded that the radiological risk parameters calculated from the port complex are above the recommended world standards by ICRP and UNSCEAR, and the onne complex is not radiologically degraded.

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