Open AccessTeresterial Background Ionizing Radiation around Lead/Zinc Mining Site in Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Author(s) -
C. Mgbeokwere,
C. P. Ougbo,
A. Bubu
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
asian journal of physical and chemical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2456-7779
DOI - 10.9734/ajopacs/2021/v9i430141
Subject(s) - ionizing radiation , radiological weapon , background radiation , radiation , environmental health , environmental science , dose rate , zinc , radiation exposure , nuclear medicine , toxicology , radiochemistry , irradiation , medicine , materials science , physics , chemistry , biology , metallurgy , optics , nuclear physics
Background ionizing radiation around Lead/Zinc mining sites at Ishiagu, Ebonyi State was carried out using appropriate equipment. The background ionizing radiation of the environment was determined by measuring the radiation exposure rates using Radalert-200 and Geographical Positioning System (GPS). Radiological health parameters and effective dose to different organs of the body was estimated. The average exposure rate of 0.00017mSv/h (0.017mR/h) measured was relatively higher than the world acceptable value of 0.00013mSv/h (0.013mR/h ). All the radiological risk parameters estimated are relatively high. The result of this work shows that the mining µactivities have enhanced the radiation level of Ishiagu and health status of the populace.