Determination of natural radioactivity and hazard in soil samples in and around gold mining area in Itagunmodi, south-western, Nigeria

The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K in soil samples from the gold mining area in Itagunmodi were measured by gamma spectrometry using Sodium Iodide detector. Radiological hazard assessments due to these natural radionuclides were carried out. The average activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K determined in the mining sites were 55.3 ± 1.2, 26.4 ± 2.7 and 505.1 ± 7.1 Bqkg−1, respectively while in the normal living areas it was respectively 8.8 ± 1.9, 17.5 ± 2.7 and 102.8 ± 12.1 Bqkg−1. The mean annual effective dose in the mining site was 81.3 μSv which is about 16% higher than the world average. The mean radium equivalent activity concentration, the mean external and internal hazard indices in the study areawere less than the world averages. Therefore, mining activities in Itagunmodi poses no radiological hazard to the general public.

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