DETERMINATION OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS IN VEGETABLES IRRIGATED WITH WATER FROM TIN MINING PONDS AROUND DOROWA IN BARKIN LADI, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Abstract Naturally occurring radionuclide of terrestrial origin also term primordial radionuclides, are present in various degree in all environmental media, including the human body. Dose from ingestion are mainly due to 40K, 232Th and 238U present in food and drinking water. The sample of water used for this study was from large mining ponds from three locations of Kapang, Selebirom and Sabon angwa all of Dorowa district of Barkin Ladi Local Govt. Area of plateau State. The vegetables were also collected from the same location. The samples were analysed using Protean Instrument Corporation (PIC) MPC 2000DP and Canberra Model 727/727R Lead Shield Gamma ray Spectrometer with NaI(Ti) detector. The result of the analysis shows that the gross alpha and beta activity in the water ranges from 0.092 ± 0.002 to 0.729 ± 0.040Bq/kg and 0.370 ± 0.027 to 0.847 ± 0.098Bq/kg. Also, the gross alpha in the vegetable sampled in, Cabbage, carrots and spinach was 0.022±0.002Bq/kg, 0.026±0.002Bq/kg and 0.001±0.001Bq/kg, gross beta in the same sample was 0.016±0.003Bq/kg, 0.085±0.004Bq/kg and 0.030±0.003Bq/kg respectively. The activity concentration in vegetable for 40K, 223Th and 238U, shows that 40K ranges from 479.34±10.80 to 360.56±32.43Bq/kg, 232Th ranges from 3.50±0.58 to 2.30±0.80Bq/kg, 238U range from 10.89±1.96 to 2.54±0.87 Bq/kg respectively. The result obtained from the analysis, is evident that the water has been polluted with some radioactive materials and would not be suitable for irrigation purposes The result of the radionuclides in the vegetables though may not pose any health risk, but consumption of the vegetable over time can cause serious health risk to the inhabitants, thus the use of the water for irrigation should be stop