ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL RADIONUCLIDE CONTENTS IN RESIDENTIAL BOREHOLE WATER COLLECTED FROM A SELECTED AREA OF JEMA’A LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF KADUNA STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

The analysis of radioactivity level in groundwater in Jema’a Local Government area of Kaduna State, Nigeria was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. The result revealed the concentration levels of radioactive materials in each of the water samples which include uranium, thorium and potassium. The mean activity concentration of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in borehole water samples were 33.21±1.10 BqL^-1, 3.39±1.18 BqL^-1 and 61.88±0.90 BqL^-1 respectively which were found to be higher than the permissible values, and the percentage cancer risk is found directly proportional to the absorbed dose. Therefore, the final results were not favorable because all the radioactive materials detected and their concentration levels exceeded the international maximum contaminant levels set by UNSCEAR, 2000 and WHO, 2008 standards. The lifetime cancer risk evaluated for all the water samples were found to be greater than the recommended limit. The result revealed that the environment has been polluted with un-segregated wastes which may contain some radio elements. Therefore, continual radiation exposure of the populace will pose significant health threat. It recommends the need for the people of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna communities to treat their water before consumption and an awareness programs should also be implemented to inform the people of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna communities of the status of the water quality and methods that can be used to avoid getting ill as a result of water contamination.