Radiological Analysis of Selected Organic Fertilizers in Zaria Local Government Area Council, Kaduna State, Nigeria: Possible Health Implications

Abstract

The activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides (40 K, 226 Ra 232 Th) in nine organic fertilizers were measured using NaI (Tl) gamma ray spectrometry. The results show that 40 K mean activity concentration was 305.33±0.196Bqkg-1 ranging from 120Bq/kg to 907 Bqkg-1 , 232 Th mean concentration was 45.04Bqkg-1 ranging from 14.66 Bq/kg to 60.20Bqkg-1. While 226 Ra mean concentration was 24.87±0.02Bqkg-1 with a range of 12.83 to 65.69Bqkg-1. Radiological hazard indices were calculated and the mean air absorbed dose rate was 51.59nGyh-1 it ranged from 30.33 to 101.23nGyh-1. The annual effective dose rate averaged 61.33µSvy-1 (0.061) which is lower than the world average (0.07µSvy-1) it ranged from 33.39 to 124.51μSvy-1. The Raeq was 112.90Bqkg-1 which is far below the 370Bqkg-1 maximum.The Hex and Hin averaged 0.31 and 0.37respectively. From Radiological point, organic fertilizers do not impart significant radiological risk, because the radiological hazard indices are lower than Bench marks.