Evaluation of Radionuclide Concentrations in Drinking Water level of Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State

Authors

  • Victor E. Agbeyi
    Department of Biological Sciences, Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria
  • Oghenevovwero E. Esi
    Department of Physics, Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria
  • Johnson O. Etaghene
    Department of Biological Sciences, Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria

Keywords:

Radionuclide , borehole water , health , activity concentration

Abstract

Potassium (40K), Uranium (238U) and Thorium (232Th) are radionuclides that are present in drinking water sources naturally or artificially. The exposure of humans and animals to these radionuclides in minute doses may cause chronic health issues in the future. This work analyzed the level of activity concentrations of Potassium 40K, 238U and 232Th in borehole water used for drinking and other domestic activities. Twenty-nine (29) samples were collected in a one-litre cylindrical air-tight polyvinylchloride container, thoroughly washed and sterilised. The samples were analyzed using a well-calibrated thallium-activated 3x3 Sodium Iodide NaI(Tl) detector at the Institute of Radiation Protection and Research (NIRPR). The results of the analyses showed that the activity concentrations of 40K, 238U and 232Th have mean values of 110.39 ± 19.21, 9.35 ± 2.01, and 5.21 ± 2.56, respectively, which were all above the world average recommended values of WHO and UNSCEAR. Therefore, the use of the water for drinking is toxic and detrimental to the physiology and the overall health status of the consumers.

Dimensions

Esi, E.O., Akpoyibo, O., Nwankwo, R.C & Vwavware, O.J. (2023). Estimation of the variability of sand deposits in chosen communities in parts of Niger delta, Southern-Nigeria using geophysical techniques. Solid Earth Sciences 8: 267–282, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sesci.2023.10.001

Ikeda, N., Hasegawa, T., and Fukuda, M. (2020). Accumulation and effects of radionuclides in aquatic organisms. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(7), 4321-4329.

Rabiu, J. A., Kolawole, A. A., Raheem, I. O. & Junaidu. A.H. (2025). Determination of Radionuclide Concentration and its Health Effect in Fish Samples from Dadin Kowa Dam, Gombe State, Nigeria. Dutse Journal of Pure and Applied Science. 11 (1c): 250-262. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/dujopas.v11i1c.25

Esi, O. E., Agbalagba, E. O., & Avwiri, G O. (2021). Impact of produced water discharge on the gross alpha and gross beta activity concentrations and radiological health risk on drinking water sources in coastal areas of Nigeria. International Journal of Ambient Energy, 42(1): 18-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/01430750.2018.1525577

Orosun, M. M., Ehi-Eromosele, C. O., & Oguntimehin, I. I. (2022). Overview of radionuclides:Sources and impacts. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 190(2), 114-123

Paul, S. N., Frazzoli, C., Sikoki, F. D., Babatunde, B. B., & Orisakwe, O. E. (2022). Natural occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) from mining sites in Nigeria: A systematic review of geographical distribution and public health concern. Journal of environmental radioactivity, 249, 106889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106889

Mohuba, S. C., Abiye, T., & Nhleko, S. (2022). Evaluation of radionuclide levels in drinking water from communitiesnear active and abandoned gold mines and tailings in the West Rand Region, Gauteng, South Africa. Minerals, 12(11), 1370. https://doi.org/10.3390/min12111370

Giussani, A., Lopez, M. A., Romm, H., Testa, A., Ainsbury, E. A., Degteva, M., & Youngman, M. (2020). Eurados review of retrospective dosimetry techniques for internal exposures to ionising radiation and their applications. Radiation and environmental biophysics, 59, 357-387. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-020-00845-y

Eckerman, K., Harrison J., Menzel H.-G. & Clement, C. H., Fasunwon, O. O., Alausa, S. K., Odunaike, R. K., Alausa, I.M., & Ajala, B.I. (2010). Activity concentrations of natural radionuclide in well waters of Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria. Iran Journal of Radiation Research. 7(4): 207-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icrp.2013.05.003.

Kugbere, E., Isi, P. O., Amidu, O. M., Adewole, M. G., & Victor M. (2025). Assessment of Activity Concentrations of Radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) and Annual Effective Doses in Water from Gold Mining Pits, Osun State, Nigeria. International Journal of Life Sciences Research 13 (2) 41-47. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15268629

Pandey, B. N., Kumar, A., Tiwari, P., & Mishra, K. P. (2010). Radiobiological basis in management of accidental radiation exposure. International Journal of Radiation Biology, 86(8), 613-635. https://doi.org/10.3109/09553001003746059

Esi, E.O., & Akpoyibo, O. (2024). Geophysical survey and radiometric assessment of aquifer strata and vulnerable groundwater quality of Ukwuani Ommunities in Delta State. Scientia Africana 23 (2), 88-103. https://doi.org/10.4314/sa.v23i2.9

Oyebanjo, O. A., & Magbagbeola, A. G. (2015). Radionuclide analysis of drinking water in selected secondary schools of Epe local government area, Lagos state, Nigeria. Nigeria Journal of Pure & Applied Physics, 6, 1; 40 – 45

UNSCEAR 2000 Report to the General assembly. Annex B: exposures from natural radiation sources. (New York.)

Abdu, N. M., Aznan, F. I,. & Nuraddeen, N. G. (2022). Annual effective dose associated with radioactivity in drinking water from tin mining areas in North-western Nigeria. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences. ; 15 (3), 96-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrras.2022.06.008

Esi, E.O., Edomi, O., & Odedede, P.O. (2019). Assessment of Indoor and Outdoor Background Ionizing Radiation Level in School of Marine Technology, Burutu, Delta State, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Research and Reviews in Physics 2 (3), 1- 8. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajr2p/2019/v2i330104

Karabıdak, S. M., Kaya, A. & Kaya. S. (2019). Cancer risk analysis of some drinking water resources inGümüşhane, Turkey, Sustain. Water Resources Management 5, 1939–1949. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-019-00338-x

Gezim, H., Serdar, D., Sehad, K., Sami, M., & Labinot, K. (2025). Natural radionuclides in drinking water and annual effective dose to infant, child, and adult. Journal of Water and Health. 23 (3): 373–383. https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2025.316

Dizman, S., Aşık, F. Z., Özçelik, A. E., Keser, R., & Görür F. K. (2023). Tritium contents in drinking and surface seawaters before the nuclear power plant planned in Sinop (Türkiye) and their radiological risks on human population. Journal of Water and Health. 21, 1847–1857. https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2023.205

WHO 2000 Guidelines drinking-water quality: Recommendations. World Health Organization, Geneva.

Esi, E.O., & Akpoyibo, O. (2023.) Estimation of Aqufer Transmissivity for typical Oil Producing Communities of Western Niger Delta using Electrical Resistivity Survey. Coast Journal of the School of Science Oaustech Okitipupa 5 (2), 893-908. https://doi.org/10.61281/coastjss.v5i2.2

Najeba Salih, F., (2022). Measuring the Radioactivity Concentration of 40K, 226Ra, 232Th and Radiological Risk Assessment from Water Tap. Journal of Environmental Protection, 10, 353-358. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1878168/v1

Aydan Altikulac, Aslı Kurnaz, Şeref Turhan, and Metehan Kutucu (2022). Natural Radionuclides in Bottled Mineral Waters Consumed in Turkey and their Contributions to Radiation Dose. Journal of Environmental Chemistry, (7): 34428-34435. https://pubs.acs.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c04087

Pascal Tchokossa., (2011). Assessment of Radionuclide Concentrations and Absorbed Dose from Consumption of Community Water Supplies in Oil and Gas Producing Areas in Delta State, Nigeria. World Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 1, 77-86. https://doi.org/10.4236/wjnst.2011.13012

Ogundele, K.T., & Oluyemi, E.A. (2020). Determination of Radionuclide Concentrations and Hazard Indices of Water and Fish in Eko-Ende Dam, Ifelodun Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria. Journal of Radiation and Nuclear Applications 5(1), 55-59. https://doi.org/10.18576/jrna/050108

Ayaji, N.O., & Laogun, A.A., (2006). Variation of environmental gamma radiation in Benin with vertical height, Nig. J. Space Res. (2) 47–54.

Oluyide, S.O., Tchokossa, .P., Orosun, M.M., & Akinyose, F.C., (2019). Natural Radioactivity and Radiological Impact Assessment of Soil, Food and Water around Iron and Steel Smelting Area in Fashina Village, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage.Vol. 23 (1) 135–143. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v23i1.20

European Council, (2013). Council Directive 2013/51/ Euratom of 22 October 2013 on the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption, Official Journal of the European Union L 296, 12–21. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v23i1.20

cover

Published

2025-10-15

How to Cite

Evaluation of Radionuclide Concentrations in Drinking Water level of Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State. (2025). Lafia Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 3(2), 159-164. https://doi.org/10.62050/ljsir2025.v3n2.630

Issue

Volume 3, Issue 2 (October, 2025), Lafia Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research (LJSIR)

Section

Physical Sciences
Copyright & Licensing

Copyright (c) 2025 Victor E. Agbeyi, Oghenevovwero E. Esi, Johnson O. Etaghene (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Evaluation of Radionuclide Concentrations in Drinking Water level of Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State. (2025). Lafia Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 3(2), 159-164. https://doi.org/10.62050/ljsir2025.v3n2.630

Similar Articles

51-60 of 68

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.