Determination of the Gross Alpha and Beta Activity Concentration in Groundwater from Damaturu

Abstract

The major source of potable water in Damaturu is underground water especially boreholes and artesian wells which may contain radioactive substances. The presence of radioactivity in water may pose severe health risk to consumers. In light of this, the gross alpha and beta activity concentration of 15 borehole water samples from Damaturu were analysed using the gasless channel MPC 2000B-DP proportional counter. The highest concentration of alpha activity was recorded for samples from Gwange with 50.262.78mBq L. This was also found to have the highest activity concentration 79.87  5.26 mBq L for beta activity. The lowest alpha activity concentration was obtained in New Abbari with 0.79 1.19 mBq L and the lowest beta activity concentration was obtained in Waziri Ibrahim 10.24  3.05 mBq L . The mean alpha and beta activity concentrations in the study area ar15.76 1.74 mBq L and 35.11  4.09 mBq L, respectively. All the samples analysed are below the 0.5 Bq L and 1.0 Bq L screening level set by the WHO (2011) for alpha and beta activity concentration, respectively. The annual gonadal equivalent dose (AGED) and committed effective dose (CED) were calculated for the samples and it was found that all the samples were within the 1mSv yr limit set by the ICRP for members of the public. Therefore, the level of radioactivity in the water samples may not pose a significant health risk. It is recommended that this study be expanded to analyse all potable water sources in the study area using an improved method of analysis.