A Review on Environmental Radioactivity Measurement and its Impact on Human Health
Keywords:
Natural Radioactivity, Radiation Exposure, Radiation DoseAbstract
Natural radioactivity in drinking water sources, no doubt poses serious contamination hazards. Assessment of its level in drinking water, therefore, provides useful information on potential unwanted radiation exposure to humans. To assess the effects of natural radionuclides in the environment, analysis is carried out on samples from the environmental media such as water, soil, and species using different radiation detection techniques. This article reviews some of such studies with a view of gathering vital information on the recently used techniques, discusses current situations and give highlights of recent findings.
References
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R. A. Je?ree, F. Oberhansli & J. L. Teyssie, “Accumulation and Transport Behaviour of 241-americium, 60-cobalt and 134-cesium by Eggs of the Spotted Dog?sh Scyliorhinus Canicula”, Mar Pollut Bull 54 (2007) 912.
T. Semizhon, S. Rollin, Y. Spasova & E. Klemt, “Transport and Distribution of Arti?cial Gamma-emitting Radionuclides in the River Yenisei and its Sediment”, J Environ Radioact 101 (2010) 385.
B. Yaron, I. Dror & B. Berkowitz, “Contaminant Geochemistry-A New Perspective”, Naturwissenschaften 97 (2010) 1.
W. Larry, “Water Resources Handbook”, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 16 766.
IAEA, “Gamma-Ray Surveys in Uranium Exploration, in Technical Reports Series”, IAEA (1996) 90.
UNSCEAR, “Sources and E?ects of Ionizing Radiation”, UNSCEAR, New York (2000).
WHO, “Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality”, World Health Organisation Publication 1 (1988) 197.
ICRP, “Recommendations of the International Committee on Radiological Protection”, Pergamon Press, 1991.
A. D. Wrixon, “New ICRP Recommendations”, Journal of Radiological Protection 28 (2008) 161.
W. W. Wood, T. F. Kraemer & A. Shapiro, “Radon (222 Rn) in Ground Water of Fractured Rocks: A Di?usion/Ion Exchange Model”, GroundWater 42 (2004) 552.
M. Abo, M. Manal, H. Daif & M. Eissa, “Cytogenetic E?ects of Radon Inhalation” Radiation Measurements 43 (2008) 1265.
A. Auvinen, L. Salonen, J. Pekkanen, E. Pukkala, T. Ilus & P. Kurttio, “Radon and other Natural Radionuclides in Drinking Water and Risk of Stomach Cancer: A Case-Cohort Study in Finland”, Int J Cancer 114 (2005) 109.
O. S. Ajayi & J. Achuka, “Radioactivity in Drilled and Dug Well Drinking Water of Ogun state Southwestern Nigeria and Consequent Dose Estimates”, Radiat Prot Dosimetry 135 (2009) 54.
I. Fatima, J. H. Zaidi, M. Arif & S. N. Tahir, “Measurement of Natural Radioactivity in Bottled Drinking Water in Pakistan and Consequent Dose Estimates” Radiat Prot Dosimetry 123 (2007) 234.
WHO, “Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality”, Nano letters 1 (2008) 197.
G. W. Collman, D. P. Loomis & D. P. Sandler, “Childhood Cancer Mortality and Radon Concentration in Drinking Water in North Carolina”, Br J Cancer 63 (1991) 626.
UNSCEAR, “Dose Assessment Methodologies, in Sources and E?ects of Ionizing Radiation.”, UNSCER (2000) 63.
B. G. Muhammad, M. S. Jaafar & T. C. Akpa, “A Survey of Gross Alpha and Beta Activity Concentrations in Groundwater from Katsina Area of Northern Nigeria”, Radiat Prot Dosimetry 141 (2010) 127.
O. S. Zorer, H. Ceylan & M. Dogru, “Gross Alpha and Beta Radioactivity Concentration in Water, Soil and Sediment of the Bendimahi River and Van Lake (Turkey)”, Nanoscale Research Letters 148 (2009) 39.
M. Palomo, A. Penalver, F. Borrull & C. Aguilar, “Measurement of Radioactivity in Bottled Drinking Water in Spain”, Appl Radiat Isot 65 (2007) 1165.
R. I. Kleinschmidt, “Gross Alpha and Beta Activity Analysis in Water: A Routine Laboratory Method using Liquid Scintillation Analysis”, Appl Radiat Isot 61 (2004) 333.
R. Rusconi, A. Azzellino, S. Bellinzona, M. Forte, R. Gallini & G. Sgorbati, “Assessment of Drinking Water Radioactivity Content by Liquid Scintillation Counting: Set-up of High Sensitivity and Emergency Procedures”, Anal Bioanal Chem 379 (2004) 247.
C. Varlam, I. Stefanescu, O. G. Duliu, I. Faurescu & I. Popescu, “Applying Direct Liquid Scintillation Counting to Low Level Tritium
Measurement”, Appl Radiat Isot 67 (2009) 812.
A. P. L. Perez-Andujara, “Performance of CdTe, HPGe and NaI(Tl) Detectors for Radioactivity Measurements”, Applied Radiation and
Isotopes 60 (2004) 441.
D. M. Bonotto & T. O. Bueno, “The Natural Radioactivity in Guarani Aquifer Groundwater, Brazil”, Appl Radiat Isot 66 (2008) 1507.
C. Tsabaris, “Monitoring Natural and Arti?cial Radioactivity Enhancement in the Aegean Sea using Floating Measuring Systems”, Appl Radiat Isot 66 (2008) 1599.
I. T. Muminov, A. K. Muhamedov, B. S. Osmanov, A. A. Safarov & A. N. Safarov, “Application of NaI(Tl) Detector for Measurement of Natural Radionuclides and (137)Cs in Environmental Samples: New Approach by Decomposition of Measured Spectrum”, J Environ Radioact 84 (2005) 321.
N. N. B. Jabiri, “Activity Concentrations of 232Th, 226Ra and 40K and Gamma Radiation Absorbed Dose Rate Levels in Farm Soil for the Production of Di?erent Brands of Cigarette Tobacco Smoked in Nigeria”, Iran Journal of Radiation Research 8 (2011) 201.
D. Al-Azmi, “Towards the Use of Small Amounts of Activated Charcoal along with Well-Type NaI(Tl) Detector for Indoor Radon Measurements”, Chemical Asian Journal 121 (2006) 413.
X. Lu & X. Zhang, “Radionuclide Content and Associated Radiation Hazards of Building Materials and By-products in Baoji, West China”, Radiat Prot Dosimetry 128 (2008) 471.
A. T. A. Rahman & A. T. Ramli, “Radioactivity Levels of U-238 and Th-232, the Alpha and Beta Activities and Associated Dose Rates from Surface Soil in Ulu Tiram, Malaysia”, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 273 (2007) 653.
A. M. Ababneh, Z. Q. Ababneh, M. A. Awawdeh & A. M. Alyassin, “Radioactivity Concentrations in Soil and Vegetables from the Northern Jordan Rift Valley and the Corresponding Dose Estimates”, Radiat Prot Dosimetry 134 (2009) 30.
Z. Q. Ababneh, H. AL-Omari, M. Rasheed, T. AL-Najjar & A. M. Ababneh, “Assessment of Gamma-emitting Radionuclides in Sediment Cores from the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea”, Radiat Prot Dosimetry 141 (2010) 289.
S. M. Abdullah, M. T. Islam, S. Z. Islam, I. Hossain, M. Samsuzzoha, M. D. Hossain, S. A. Latif & F. M. Islam, “Analysis of Arsenic Concentrations and Correlation in Water, Soil and Aurum by Neutron Activation Analysis Technique: A Case Study in Bagerhat, Bangladesh”, Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 85 (2010) 301.
A. M. Ebrahim, M. A. Eltayeb, M. K. Shaat, N. M. Mohmed, E. A. Eltayeb & A. Y. Ahmed, “Study of Selected Trace Elements in Cancerous and Non-Cancerous Human Breast Tissues from Sudanese Subjects Using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis”, Sci Total Environ 383 (2007) 52.
A. El-Taher, “Determination of Chromium and Trace Elements in El-Rubshi Chromite from Eastern Desert, Egypt by Neutron Activation Analysis”, Appl Radiat Isot 68 (2010) 1864.
R. A. Je?ree, F. Oberhansli & J. L. Teyssie, “Accumulation and Transport Behaviour of 241-americium, 60-cobalt and 134-cesium by Eggs of the Spotted Dog?sh Scyliorhinus Canicula”, Mar Pollut Bull 54 (2007) 912.
T. Semizhon, S. Rollin, Y. Spasova & E. Klemt, “Transport and Distribution of Arti?cial Gamma-emitting Radionuclides in the River Yenisei and its Sediment”, J Environ Radioact 101 (2010) 385.
B. Yaron, I. Dror & B. Berkowitz, “Contaminant Geochemistry-A New Perspective”, Naturwissenschaften 97 (2010) 1.
W. Larry, “Water Resources Handbook”, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 16 766.
IAEA, “Gamma-Ray Surveys in Uranium Exploration, in Technical Reports Series”, IAEA (1996) 90.
UNSCEAR, “Sources and E?ects of Ionizing Radiation”, UNSCEAR, New York (2000).
WHO, “Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality”, World Health Organisation Publication 1 (1988) 197.
ICRP, “Recommendations of the International Committee on Radiological Protection”, Pergamon Press, 1991.
A. D. Wrixon, “New ICRP Recommendations”, Journal of Radiological Protection 28 (2008) 161.
W. W. Wood, T. F. Kraemer & A. Shapiro, “Radon (222 Rn) in Ground Water of Fractured Rocks: A Di?usion/Ion Exchange Model”, GroundWater 42 (2004) 552.
M. Abo, M. Manal, H. Daif & M. Eissa, “Cytogenetic E?ects of Radon Inhalation” Radiation Measurements 43 (2008) 1265.
A. Auvinen, L. Salonen, J. Pekkanen, E. Pukkala, T. Ilus & P. Kurttio, “Radon and other Natural Radionuclides in Drinking Water and Risk of Stomach Cancer: A Case-Cohort Study in Finland”, Int J Cancer 114 (2005) 109.
O. S. Ajayi & J. Achuka, “Radioactivity in Drilled and Dug Well Drinking Water of Ogun state Southwestern Nigeria and Consequent Dose Estimates”, Radiat Prot Dosimetry 135 (2009) 54.
I. Fatima, J. H. Zaidi, M. Arif & S. N. Tahir, “Measurement of Natural Radioactivity in Bottled Drinking Water in Pakistan and Consequent Dose Estimates” Radiat Prot Dosimetry 123 (2007) 234.
WHO, “Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality”, Nano letters 1 (2008) 197.
G. W. Collman, D. P. Loomis & D. P. Sandler, “Childhood Cancer Mortality and Radon Concentration in Drinking Water in North Carolina”, Br J Cancer 63 (1991) 626.
UNSCEAR, “Dose Assessment Methodologies, in Sources and E?ects of Ionizing Radiation.”, UNSCER (2000) 63.
B. G. Muhammad, M. S. Jaafar & T. C. Akpa, “A Survey of Gross Alpha and Beta Activity Concentrations in Groundwater from Katsina Area of Northern Nigeria”, Radiat Prot Dosimetry 141 (2010) 127.
O. S. Zorer, H. Ceylan & M. Dogru, “Gross Alpha and Beta Radioactivity Concentration in Water, Soil and Sediment of the Bendimahi River and Van Lake (Turkey)”, Nanoscale Research Letters 148 (2009) 39.
M. Palomo, A. Penalver, F. Borrull & C. Aguilar, “Measurement of Radioactivity in Bottled Drinking Water in Spain”, Appl Radiat Isot 65 (2007) 1165.
R. I. Kleinschmidt, “Gross Alpha and Beta Activity Analysis in Water: A Routine Laboratory Method using Liquid Scintillation Analysis”, Appl Radiat Isot 61 (2004) 333.
R. Rusconi, A. Azzellino, S. Bellinzona, M. Forte, R. Gallini & G. Sgorbati, “Assessment of Drinking Water Radioactivity Content by Liquid Scintillation Counting: Set-up of High Sensitivity and Emergency Procedures”, Anal Bioanal Chem 379 (2004) 247.
C. Varlam, I. Stefanescu, O. G. Duliu, I. Faurescu & I. Popescu, “Applying Direct Liquid Scintillation Counting to Low Level Tritium
Measurement”, Appl Radiat Isot 67 (2009) 812.
A. P. L. Perez-Andujara, “Performance of CdTe, HPGe and NaI(Tl) Detectors for Radioactivity Measurements”, Applied Radiation and
Isotopes 60 (2004) 441.
D. M. Bonotto & T. O. Bueno, “The Natural Radioactivity in Guarani Aquifer Groundwater, Brazil”, Appl Radiat Isot 66 (2008) 1507.
C. Tsabaris, “Monitoring Natural and Arti?cial Radioactivity Enhancement in the Aegean Sea using Floating Measuring Systems”, Appl Radiat Isot 66 (2008) 1599.
I. T. Muminov, A. K. Muhamedov, B. S. Osmanov, A. A. Safarov & A. N. Safarov, “Application of NaI(Tl) Detector for Measurement of Natural Radionuclides and (137)Cs in Environmental Samples: New Approach by Decomposition of Measured Spectrum”, J Environ Radioact 84 (2005) 321.
N. N. B. Jabiri, “Activity Concentrations of 232Th, 226Ra and 40K and Gamma Radiation Absorbed Dose Rate Levels in Farm Soil for the Production of Di?erent Brands of Cigarette Tobacco Smoked in Nigeria”, Iran Journal of Radiation Research 8 (2011) 201.
D. Al-Azmi, “Towards the Use of Small Amounts of Activated Charcoal along with Well-Type NaI(Tl) Detector for Indoor Radon Measurements”, Chemical Asian Journal 121 (2006) 413.
X. Lu & X. Zhang, “Radionuclide Content and Associated Radiation Hazards of Building Materials and By-products in Baoji, West China”, Radiat Prot Dosimetry 128 (2008) 471.
A. T. A. Rahman & A. T. Ramli, “Radioactivity Levels of U-238 and Th-232, the Alpha and Beta Activities and Associated Dose Rates from Surface Soil in Ulu Tiram, Malaysia”, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 273 (2007) 653.
A. M. Ababneh, Z. Q. Ababneh, M. A. Awawdeh & A. M. Alyassin, “Radioactivity Concentrations in Soil and Vegetables from the Northern Jordan Rift Valley and the Corresponding Dose Estimates”, Radiat Prot Dosimetry 134 (2009) 30.
Z. Q. Ababneh, H. AL-Omari, M. Rasheed, T. AL-Najjar & A. M. Ababneh, “Assessment of Gamma-emitting Radionuclides in Sediment Cores from the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea”, Radiat Prot Dosimetry 141 (2010) 289.
S. M. Abdullah, M. T. Islam, S. Z. Islam, I. Hossain, M. Samsuzzoha, M. D. Hossain, S. A. Latif & F. M. Islam, “Analysis of Arsenic Concentrations and Correlation in Water, Soil and Aurum by Neutron Activation Analysis Technique: A Case Study in Bagerhat, Bangladesh”, Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 85 (2010) 301.
A. M. Ebrahim, M. A. Eltayeb, M. K. Shaat, N. M. Mohmed, E. A. Eltayeb & A. Y. Ahmed, “Study of Selected Trace Elements in Cancerous and Non-Cancerous Human Breast Tissues from Sudanese Subjects Using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis”, Sci Total Environ 383 (2007) 52.
A. El-Taher, “Determination of Chromium and Trace Elements in El-Rubshi Chromite from Eastern Desert, Egypt by Neutron Activation Analysis”, Appl Radiat Isot 68 (2010) 1864.
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Published
2019-09-01
How to Cite
Muhammad, B. G., & Bello, A. A. (2019). A Review on Environmental Radioactivity Measurement and its Impact on Human Health. Physics Memoir - Journal of Theoretical & Applied Physics, 1(3), 99–105. Retrieved from https://physicsmemoir.org.ng/index.php/pmjtap/article/view/12
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Nuclear, Radiation & Medical Physics
