Asian Research Journal of Current Science

The environmental care must at all times include record of the level of radiation exposure to the human populace. This study therefore aimed at evaluation of spatial distribution of environmental radiation in Kolo communities, Nigeria, which will serve as base line data. A well calibrated (Digilert-200) survey meter and global positioning system (GPS) were used. The Survey meter contained a Geiger Muller tube with capacity to detect alpha, Beta, Gamma and X-rays. The results obtained showed that the average exposure rate or the background ionizing radiation (BIR) ranged from 0.017 to 0.020 mR/hr while the average corresponding equivalent dose (ED) ranged from 1.393 to 1.677 mSv/yr. The average values of background ionizing radiation and equivalent dose were 0.019 mR/hr and 1.562 mSv/yr respectively. These BIR and ED values were slightly above the world permissible standard values of 0.013 mR/hr and 1.0 mSv/yr respectively. The radiological hazard indices computed from the measured background ionizing radiation showed that the average value of absorbed dose rate was 165.30 nGyh⁻¹, average value of annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) was 0.203 mSvyr⁻¹ and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk was 0.711 mSvyr⁻¹. These radiological hazard indices were found to be slightly above the world permissible limits but could be considered insignificant in short term radiological health assessment. Hence the conclusion that the residents of kolo1, Kolo2 and Kolo3 communities were not faced with short-term radiological challenge. The slight elevation of the background ionizing radiation may be attributed to oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities, incessant pipeline vandalism/theft that led to oil spills in the area. Therefore, there should be routine monitoring by relevant agencies in case of a sudden increase in BIR.