Potentially toxic metals in irrigation water, soil, and vegetables and their health risks using Monte Carlo models.

Food safety has become a serious global concern because of the accumulation of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) in crops cultivated on contaminated agricultural soils. Amongst these toxic elements, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) receive worldwide attention because of their ability to cause deleterious health effects. Thus, an assessment of these toxic metals in the soils, irrigation waters, and the most widely consumed vegetables in Nigeria; Spinach (Amaranthushybridus), and Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) was evaluated using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).

Assessment of Radium Equivalent Activity and Total Annual Effective Dose in Cassava cultivated around Ewekoro Cement Factory.

In this study, cassava tubers cultivated in the Ewekoro cement area were investigated with the aid of Hyper Pure Germanium (HPGe) detector in order to assess the radionuclide content. Twenty-seven (27) samples of both arable soil and cassava tubers were studied at different sites to the epicenter of the mining activity. The results revealed the highest activity concentrations of K-40, Ra-226, and Th-232 to be 194.

Heavy metal contamination of selected mining fields in North-Central Nigeria.

This study evaluates the causes, concentration and the associated health risks of selected heavy metals (HMs) in soil samples collected from beryllium and gold mining fields in Nigeria. The samples of soil were collected manually and analysed by means of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Seventy-two (72) samples were analysed which presented varying degrees of concentration of the selected HMs.

Soil-to-plant transfer of K, U and Th and radiological risk assessment of selected mining sites in Nigeria.

One of the major route through which humans are exposed to ionizing radiation is via food chain, which is consequent of soil-to-plant transfer of radionuclides. This work reported the activity concentrations of K, U and Th in samples of water, soil and guinea corn grains collected from Beryllium and Gold mining sites in Kwara, Nigeria. In-situ measurements at approximately 1 m in the air was carried out using a well-calibrated portable Gamma Spectrometer (Super Spec RS-125), while the soil, water and the guinea corn samples were analyzed using a '3 × 3' inch lead-shielded NaI (Tl) detector.

Sustainable nano-sodium silicate and silver nitrate impregnated locally made ceramic filters for point-of-use water treatments in sub-Sahara African households.

The poor access to water quality for Nigerians has pushed for the designing of new trend silver nitrate impregnated locally made Point-Of-Use (POU) ceramic filters to enhance water purification efficiency for household use. This study utilized silver nitrate-molded ceramic filters prepared with Kaolin from Owode, silt soil, sodium silicate, sawdust, and distilled water in three varying proportions to ascertain pollution removal efficiencies. Heating was carried out by firing the filters at 900 °C and further preheating at 400 °C after dipping in silver nitrate solution.

MEASUREMENTS OF SEASONAL VARIATIONS OF RADIOACTIVITY DISTRIBUTIONS IN RIVERINE SOIL SEDIMENT OF ADO-ODO OTA, SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA: PROBABILISTIC APPROACH USING MONTE CARLO.

The radioactivity levels were measured using a hand-held gamma-ray survey meter and NaI (Tl) based gamma spectroscopy to evaluate the seasonal variation of radioactivity levels in the riverine area of Ado-Odo Ota. The measured iso-dose map reported higher gamma dose rate of 79 nGy/h, approximately 34% higher than the world average of 59 nGy/h. The values for U-238, Th-232 and K-40 activity levels ranged between 29.

Spatial distribution of gamma radiation dose rates from natural radionuclides and its radiological hazards in sediments along river Iju, Ogun state Nigeria.

This study assessed the radioactivity level of Iju River sediments and its associated radiological risks exposure to human. Gamma absorbed dose rates were measured using a portable gamma spectrometer at an interval of 50 m between each point (Model No:RS-125 manufactured by Canadian Geophysical Institute). The measured absorbed gamma dose rates range from 22 to 59 nGy/h with the highest value noted in site 13.

Toxicology of Heavy Metals to Subsurface Lithofacies and Drillers during Drilling of Hydrocarbon Wells.

This study investigates the toxicological effects of heavy metals on lithofacies of the subsurface in a drilled hydrocarbon well as well as, to the drilling crew and people in an environment. The pollution levels of selected heavy metals were considered alongside their ecological effects during dry and wet seasons. The health hazard potential of human exposures to the metals, were estimated in terms of intensity and time using the USEPA recommended model.

Assessment of naturally occurring radiation in lithofacies of oil field in Niger Delta region and its possible health implications.

The accumulation and increase in radionuclide activities of NORMs beyond permissible levels, will lead to health hazards and environmental damages if proper measures are not taken to control their occurrence as well as protect the lives of drillers and the environment. Therefore, evaluations and risk assessments of subsurface lithofacies is inevitable in order to protect people and the environment. Lack of existing Federal environmental regulations to address the presence of NORMs in oil and gas exploration activities in Nigeria, gives credence to this study.

Geo-investigation on groundwater control in some parts of Ogun state using data from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission and vertical electrical soundings.

Groundwater is a vital natural resource that plays a significant function in sustainability of living things on earth. Its exploration requires special skill for optimum exploitation. Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)and Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) were used to detectthe stratigraphy and subsurface structures controlling the groundwater system around Iju - Ota, Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria.

Radiological and toxicity risk exposures of oil based mud: health implication on drilling crew in Niger Delta.

Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) and the presence of toxic metals in drilling fluids/their additives have raised research interests in recent times owing to the risks associated with the exposure times for drillers of petroleum wells. In this study, two drilling fluids A and B were formulated, while two other Mud Samples C and D were obtained from drilled shale and shale-sand formation zones. All four fluids were collected and analyzed for the presence of radioactive and heavy metals.

Comparison between experimental and satellite temperature datasets in Covenant University.

This article contains the ground and satellite meteorological data sets of clear-sky temperature events for five years (2012-2016) in Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. The satellite data were obtained from Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) while the ground data information were acquired from Davis weather station data logger-vantage pro2. These data were acquired from propagation study that used same location (Lat: 6.

A STUDY OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN SOME BUILDING MATERIALS IN NIGERIA.

Building materials of different brands were assessed for the concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K using HPGe detector. The activity concentrations in the measured samples ranged from 27 ± 8 to 82 ± 8 Bq kg-1 for 226Ra, 41 ± 4 to 101 ± 8 Bq kg-1 for 232Th and 140 ± 8 to 940 ± 19 Bq kg-1 for 40K, respectively. The Radium equivalent (Raeq) activity from the samples was found to be <370 Bq kg-1 as the recommended value for construction materials.

Health risk assessment of heavy metal variability in sachet water sold in Ado-Odo Ota, South-Western Nigeria.

The sales of sachet water (SW), also known as "pure water" (PW), in Nigeria is a lucrative business. It serves many people, especially low-income earners, by providing a more affordable access to safe drinking water when compared with table water. However, some of the producers of SW do not effectively treat raw water before packaging them for sale.

Measurement of ²³⁸U,²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in boreholes at Gosa and Lugbe, Abuja, north central Nigeria.

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the suitability of different sites as locations for obtaining underground water for consumption. The analysis of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K from rock samples from each layer of borehole at a depth of ∼50 m at Site A borehole, S3L1-S3L6 in Gosa and 40 m at Site B borehole, S4L1-S4L5 in Lugbe, Abuja, north central Nigeria is presented. The gamma-ray spectrometry was carried out using a high-purity germanium detector coupled to a computer-based high-resolution multichannel analyzer.