DETERMINATION OF THE ACTIVITY CONCENTRATION OF SOME

PREMORDIAL RADIONUCLIDES FROM AGRICULTURAL SOILS AND

PLANTS CLOSE TO ARTISANAL MINING SITES OF ATUKU, DENJI, DOGON

FILI AND KANUFI, JEMA’A LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KADUNA STATE,

NIGERIA.

1
UGBALI V. E., 2Dr. Umaru I., 3Dr. Mundi A., 4Simon M.

1
UGBALI V. E. Kaduna State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Kafanchan

Campus: Corresponding Author victorugbali61@gmail.com

2
Dr. Umaru I. Nasarawa State University Keffi
3
Dr. Mundi A. Nasarawa State University Keffi

4
Simon M. Kaduna State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Kafanchan

Abstract

Soils are known to contain radionuclides especially the ones closer to mine sites that

emit radiation continuously. The activity concentrations of plants and soil samples

from some mine sites in Jema’a has been investigated. Thirty two (32) plants and soil

samples were randomly collected from different mine sites. The samples were taken

to the laboratory of the Department of physics at the Federal University of Agriculture

Abeokuta for preparation. 200g of each collected soil sample and 100g of each plant

sample was allowed to attain secular equilibrium by enclosing it in a plastic container

for twenty eight (28) days. Radiometric analysis of the samples was carried out using

a thalhum doped sodium iodide detector. Standard equations were used to estimate the

radiological parameters associated with exposure to ionizing radiation from the

1
natural radionuclides in the samples. The study revealed that the activity
226 232
concentrations of Ra, Th, and 40K lie between 10.2+ 7.3 to 106.6, 5.7 + 0.5 to

91.7 + 10.0 and 6.4 + 3.1 to 151.7 + 13.1 respectively for soil and 17.6 + 7.9 to 33.0 +

23.1, 11.4 + 3.3 to 87.2 + 11.3 and 42.0 + 13.9 to 162.6 + 56.3 respectively for plant

with a mean value of 89.8 + 29.2, 30.8 + 12.4 and 39.1 + 4.7 for soil and 24.8 + 15.3,

43.8 + 5.4 and 115.4 + 27.0 for plants respectively. The concentration of 40K and

232Th were higher in the plant samples while that of 226Ra is higher in the soil

sample. Though in both the plant and soil samples, the concentration of 40K, 226Ra and
232
Th were below the world average of 420, 32 and 40 Bqkg–1 respectively.

1. Introduction

Soil is not only a source of continuous radiation exposure to humans, but due to

increase in the mining of the top soils it can be seen as a medium of migration

and transfer of radionuclides to biological system (Doyi et al., 2017)

Subsequently, soil can provide an indication of anthropogenic radiological

contamination in the environment. Natural radioactivity arises mainly from

primordial radionuclides, such as potassium-40 ( 40K) and the radionuclides from

uranium-238 (238U), thorium-232 (232Th) series and their decay products, which

are present at trace levels in all sediment formations. The amount of radioactivity

in soil varies widely and significantly affects gamma radiation levels which in

turn can be used for the assessment of terrestrial gamma dose rates (Doyi et al.,

2017). Natural radioactivity is the main sources of radiation exposure in humans

and has led to studies of radiation levels, doses from natural radiation sources and

its effects on health (Doyi et al., 2017).

2
Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) refers to all the radionuclides

that exist in the environment naturally. They are the primordial radionuclides 40K,
232 238
Th and U, and there decay products which are present within the earth crust

(UNSCEAR, 1993).

Man is exposed to radiation from either natural or anthropogenic radioactive

source (UNSCEAR, 1993). The natural sources of radiation are of terrestrial and

Cosmo genic origin. Terrestrial radiation is due to radioactive nuclides, 40K, 232Th
238
and U, present in varying amounts in the environment while Cosmo genic

radiation originates from the outer space as primary cosmic rays, (UNSCEAR,

1993). Anthropogenic radioactive sources are from nuclear reactors and other

radioactive generators used for medical and industrial activities, (Ademola et al.,

2014).

Some human activities have led to increase in the relative concentration of

radionuclides, for example mining. Higher exposures arise from such human

activities because they involve extraction and disposal of large quantities of

minerals containing 40K and other radionuclides in the decay series of 232
Th and
238
U. Miners and crops produced may be exposed to radiation during extraction,

transportation and processing of the mineral ores (Ademola et al., 2014).

The deleterious radiological health hazards posed by human activities, especially

in the production of energy, research and medical applications of nuclear

facilities and in the food we eat have attracted great concern and tremendous

interest over the years in the field of radiation protection (Avwiri et al., 2014).

Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) occurs mainly from

3
 238 232 40
primordial radionuclides such as Uranium U, Thorium Th, Potassium K

and any of their decay products (Gaafaret et al., 2015). Growing demand for

agricultural soil data information is of outmost important (Guidottiet et al.,

2015). Mining and mineral processing activities have been linked with an

increase in the exposure to a technically improved level of radiation background

in human and non – human biota. The primordial radionuclides that are of

terrestrial origin find their ways into ecosystems and human food chain thereby

increasing the chances of radiation – related effects (Aliyu et al., 2015). The

activity concentration levels of soil/sediments from selected mining areas in

Nasarawa State, Nigeria were measured, and the human health and radio

ecological impacts of mining activities at the mining sites was assessed as results

shows that 40K has the largest contribution to the specific activities in the soil

samples analyzed. Although human health impact assessment is considered the

contributions of all detected radionuclides (Aliyu et al., 2015).

The levels of these radionuclides differ in the soil and rock structures and depend

on the local geology and geographical conditions of the area (UNSCEAR, 2008;

IAEA2003). The levels due to terrestrial background radiation are related to the

types of rock from which the soils originate. Higher radiation levels are

associated with igneous rocks while lower levels are associated with sedimentary

rocks (UNSCEAR, 2000; NCRP, 1993).

4
2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Area

This study was carried out close to artisanal mining sites within Jema’a. Jema’a is

a local government in the southern part of Kaduna State, Nigeria. It lies between

latitude 9003' and 11032' North of the Equator and longitude 6005' and 8038' East of

the Greenwich Meridian (Kaduna State in Perspective, 2016).

Fig. 1 shows the map of Jema’a the study area.

5
Figure 1. Map of the study area.

6
2.2. Sampling and Preparation

A total of thirty two soil and plant samples were taken from a layer ranging from 0-

10cm and 1kg within 200m from the focal point of the mining for each sample and

kept in a plastic bag. The samples were then taken to the federal university of

agriculture Abeokuta for sample preparation. The samples were put on a tray and

dried at room temperature for about 30days. The air dried samples were then grinded

using agate pestle and mortar, sifted through a 2.0mm sieve and packaged properly in

a transparent polythene bag and labeled with code numbers for easy identification.

The samples were then ready for NaI (TI) gamma–ray spectrometric system analyses

of naturally occurring radionuclides. The four (4) mine sites visited were Atuku and

Denji in Nisama, Dogon Fili in Atang and Kanufi in Gidan Waya and Godogodo axes.

four (4) soil and four (4) plant samples from each of the four (4) mine sites were

collected making a total of thirty two (32) samples in all. At each point a soil sample

was collected, a corresponding plant sample was also collected. The soil samples were

collected at a depth ranging from 0 – 10cm and weighing not less than 1kg within

200m away from the focal point of the mining and kept in a plastic bag. Soil samples

were air dried, pulverized/crushed and made to pass through a 2mm mesh sieve. A

total of 200g for soil and 100g for plant of the dried, grinded and sieved samples were

put in plastic containers of uniform sizes. The containers were shielded hermetically

and also shielded externally to ensure that all daughter products of uranium and

thorium in particular, radon isotope formed do not escape. A time of four (4) weeks

was allowed after packing, which was a sufficient time required to attain a state of

secular radioactive equilibrium after their progeny.

7
2.3. Measurement of Activity Concentration

For measurement of gamma activity concentrations of naturally occurring

radionuclides namely238U, 232

Th and 40Kin soil and plant samples, a 3” X 3” NaI (TI)

scintillation detector was employed. The detector is surrounded by a special

cylindrical lead shield of about 10cm and a height of 38cm thickness to reduce the

background radiation. The system is calibrated for the gamma energy range of

186KeV to 3000KeV. The IAEA gamma-ray spectrometry standard reference sources

238 232
of known radionuclides with U (RGU-1), Th (RGTh-1) and 40K (RGK-1) was

used to determine the efficiency of the detector for various energies in the prescribed

geometry (Osman et al., 2017). The samples were placed on top of the detector and

counted for 29000s.

2.4. Determination of Activity Concentration

214
The activity concentration of Bi determined from its 1.760MeV gamma-ray peak
226
was chosen to estimate the counts of Ra (238U)in the sample, and 208
TI radionuclide
232
determined from its 2.615 MeV gamma ray was chosen to estimate Th. The 40K

radionuclide was determined by measuring the 1.460 MeV gamma ray emitted during

decay. The activity concentrations of the radionuclide were obtained with the

assistance of the software package in the computer connected to the gamma-ray

spectrometer. Equation (3.1) shows the expression of activity concentration (Alausa et

al., 2019)

Cn
C¿ (1)
ɛ p Iγm s

8
Where C is the activity concentration of the radionuclide in the sample (BqKg -1), Cn

is the count rate under the photopeak, ɛp is the detector efficiency at the specific

gamma-ray energy, Iγ is the absolute transition probability of specific gamma ray and

ms is the mass of the sample (Kg).

9
Table 1: Radioactivity Concentration (in BqKg– 1) in Soil.

226 232 40
Sample ID Ra Th K
SL 1 46.6 + 15.6 55.6 + 8.6 6.4 + 3.1

SL 2 37.7 + 20.3 91.7 + 10.0 231.1 +83.2

SL 3 20.2 + 7.3 5.7 + 0.5 BDL

SL 4 10.2 + 7.3 BDL BDL

SL 5 21.4 + 14.7 BDL 58.3 + 20.9

SL 6 30.8 + 12.7 33.1 + 5.5 79.3 + 25.3

SL 7 10.8 + 6.8 BDL 25.4 + 10.7

SL 8 38.5 + 11.7 BDL BDL

SL 9 20.6 + 14.1 BDL 56.0 + 20.0

SL 10 106.6 + 25.6 BDL 94.5 + 26.4

SL 11 36.3 + 13.7 BDL 74.5 + 17.0

SL 12 34.3 + 8.0 BDL 121.1 + 72.7

SL 13 BDL 22.3 + 1.5 BDL

SL 14 13.8 + 8.6 26.2 + 1.8 BDL

SL 15 20.2 + 14.7 BDL BDL

SL 16 14.1 + 4.9 BDL 151.7 + 13.1

Min. 10.2 +7.3 5.7+ 0.5 6.4 + 3.1

Max. 106.6 + 25.6 91.7+10.0 231.1+ 83.2

Mean 30.8 + 12.4 39.1 + 4.7 89.8 + 29.2

10
Table 2: Radioactivity Concentration (in BqKg–1) in Plants

226 232 40
Sample ID Ra Th K
PL1 33.0 + 23.1 52.9 + 7.7 BDL

PL2 32.1+ 26.5 BDL 153.9 +34.1

PL3 17.6 + 7.9 BDL 48.3 + 7.4

Pl 4 28.4 + 18.9 87.2 + 11.3 154.7 + 52.0

PL 5 18.1 + 9.5 79.8 + 24.9 102.9 12.2

PL 6 25.6 + 23.1 70.2 + 1.0 70.5 + 14.3

PL 7 20.2 + 11.3 11.4 + 3.3 42.0 + 13.9

PL 8 26.4 + 16.2 18.5 + 2.7 148.2 + 32.2

PL 9 18.1 + 9.5 27.4 + 2.8 109.1 + 13.4

PL 10 17.6 + 7.9 61.2 + 2.0 162.6 + 56.3

PL 11 31.2 + 20.1 17.7 + 2.1 95.4 + 15.3

PL 12 24.6 + 21.2 52.1 + 7.2 154.7 + 52.0

PL 13 19.1 + 10.4 23.8 + 2.2 BDL

PL 14 33.0 + 23.1 29.9 + 0.8 BDL

PL15 32.1 + 26.5 37.4 + 2.1 153.9 + 34.1

PL 16 20.2 + 11.3 BDL 104.1 + 13.2

Min. 17.6 +7.9 11.4+3.3 42.0+13.9

Max. 33.0+ 23.1 87.2 +11.3 162.6 +56.3

Mean 24.8 + 15.3 43.8 + 5.4 115.4 +27.0

11
3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Activity Concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K

The activity concentration in soil samples ranges from 10.2 + 7.8 to 106.6 + 25.6

BqKg–1, 5.7 + 0.5 to 91.7 + 10.0 BqKg–1 and 6.4 +3.1 to 231.1 + 83.2 BqKg–1 for
226
Ra, 232Th and 40K respectively. The concentration of 40K was within the limit of

the world average of 420 BqKg – 1. The result obtained in this study were lower

than those reported by Akpanowo et al., 2020, whose study was also conducted in

Anka, North – West Nigeria.

4. Conclusion
226 232 40
Activity concentrations of Ra, Th and K measured from plants, soil and

sediments samples collected from different locations of Jema’a have been

presented. The concentration of 40K and 232

Th were higher in the plant samples
226
while that of Ra is higher in the soil sample. Though in both the plant and soil

samples, the concentration of 40K226Ra and 232Th were below the world average of

420, 32 and 40BqKg–1 respectively.

12
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