Natural Radioactivity of Soil Samples Collected from Oil Producing Areas in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Osadebamwen Isaac EHIWE; Mfon U. Bassey; Aniesua Akpan ESSIET

doi:10.56201/wjimt.v10.no6.2026.pg78.84

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Natural Radioactivity of Soil Samples Collected from Oil Producing Areas in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Osadebamwen Isaac EHIWE, Mfon U. Bassey, Aniesua Akpan ESSIET

Abstract

The study is aimed as assessing the radionuclide concentration of soil samples collected from oil producing areas in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Seven soil samples were collected from a particular location in each of the seven oil producing areas in the state. Before measurement, samples were dried in an oven at a temperature of about 75 degree Celsius for 24 hours. Each sample was packed and sealed in an airtight PVC container and kept for 28 days to allow radionuclide present in the sample to attain a secular radioactive. The analysis was done at the National Institute of Radiation Protection and Research, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. The method employed for the measurement of the activity concentration in the samples was the gamma ray spectroscopy. The detector used for the radioactivity measurements was a lead- shielded 76 x 76 mm NaI (TI) detector crystal. For 40K, the activity concentration ranged from BDL (below detection limit) to 535.6 ± 34.03 Bq.kg-1 with a mean of 202.3 ± 12.8 Bq.kg-1 for 238U, it ranged from BDL to 244.6 ±39.84 Bq.kg-1 with a mean of 120.1 ± 9.53 Bq.kg-1. For 232Th, the activity concentration ranged from BDL to 50.6±3.66 Bq.kg-1 with a mean of 26.6±1.55 Bq.kg-1. Eastern Obolo has the highest activity concentration for 40K with a value of 535.6±34.03 Bq.kg-1, Mkpat Enin and Esit Eket has the highest activity concentration for 238U and 232Th respectively with a value of 244.6±39.84 Bq.kg-1 and 65.2±4.72 Bq.kg-1, respectively. Estern Obolo has the highest distribution of 40K in the soil samples while Uyo has the least. Eastern Obolo has the highest percentage distribution of the combined radionuclide in the soil samples with a percentage of 29% while Uyo has the lowest of 5%.

Keywords

SoilRadionuclides ConcentrationRadiationAkwa Ibom State

References

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Natural Radioactivity of Soil Samples Collected from Oil Producing Areas in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

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