Assessment of Indoor and Outdoor Background Ionizing Radiation Level in School of Marine Technology, Burutu, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The ionizing radiation has the tendency of causing damage to man and its environments, hence the assessment of indoor and outdoor background ionizing radiation level in Delta State School of Marine Technology, Burutu, Delta State, Nigeria, was carried out using well calibrated and tested radiation meter (Digilert 100). The study was done in a period of ten calendar months. The purpose of this study is to obtain baseline data for indoor and outdoor Background Ionizing Radiation (BIR) level and health effect on man and the environment. For the indoor and outdoor measurement, readings were taken in three consecutive times in one location at a height of 1 meter above the ground for each point. The geographical positioning system (GPS) was equally employed in determining the coordinates of the area. The results from BIR measurement revealed that indoor readings range from 0,009 mRhr-1 to 0,019 mRhr-1 with a mean value of 0,015 mRhr-1 and for the outdoor ranges 0,010 mRhr-1 to 0,020 mRhr-1 with a mean value of 0,014 mRhr-1. The radiation health parameters calculated, for dose rate and Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE) have their mean values to be 1,135 mGyr-1 and 1,035 mGyr-1 for indoor and 0,635 mSvyr-1 and 0,145 mSvyr-1 for outdoor respectively. But the mean values of Excess Lifetime Cancer Risks (ELCR) for indoor and outdoor are 1,729 and 0,394 respectively. The deviation in BIR level and its radiological parameters are attributed to oil and gas activities in the study areas. The implication is that the area is radiologically unhealthy, the effect may not be significant but long term exposure may be dangerous. Therefore, it is imperative for radiation protection agencies to swing into regulatory action and there should be monitoring of the environment in order to reduce pollution.