Research Article Open Access

Determination of Absorbed and Effective Dose from Natural Background Radiation around a Nuclear Research Facility

Muhammad Auwal Musa, Idris Isa Funtua, Simon Peter Malam and Abdullahi Suleiman Arabi

Abstract

Problem statement: This study presents result of outdoor absorbed dose rate and estimated effective dose from the naturally occurring radionuclides 232Th and 238U series 40K, around a Nuclear Research Reactor at the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Zaria, Nigeria. Approach: A high-resolution in situ γ-ray spectrometry was used to carry out the study. CERT houses a 30Kw Research Reactor and other neutron and gamma sources for Research and Training. Results: The values of absorbed dose rate in air for 232Th, 238U and 40K range from 8.2 ± 2.5-24.5 ± 3.6 nGy h−1, 1.9 ± 1.2-4.6 ± 2.5 nGy h−1 and 12.2 ± 5-38 ± 6.7n Gy h−1 respectively . The estimated total annual effective dose outdoor for the sites range from 27.3-79.9 µSv y−1.Conclusions: This showed that radiation exposure level for the public is lower than the recommended value of 1 mSv y−1.Hence, the extensive usage of radioactive materials within and around CERT does not appear to have any impact on the radiation burden of the environment.

American Journal of Environmental Sciences
Volume 7 No. 2, 2011, 173-177

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajessp.2011.173.177

Submitted On: 26 January 2011 Published On: 26 May 2011

How to Cite: Musa, M. A., Funtua, I. I., Malam, S. P. & Arabi, A. S. (2011). Determination of Absorbed and Effective Dose from Natural Background Radiation around a Nuclear Research Facility. American Journal of Environmental Sciences, 7(2), 173-177. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajessp.2011.173.177

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Keywords

  • Absorbed dose rate
  • effective dose
  • radiation exposure
  • Global Positioning System (GPS)
  • Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT)
  • radioactive materials
  • Naturally Occurring Radionuclides (NORs)
  • terrestrial radionuclides
  • natural environmental
  • energy resolution