ELEMENTAL AND RADIOACTIVITY LEVELS IN SOILS AROUND TRANSFORMERS IN AKUNGBA-AKOKO, NIGERIA

Abstract

This work was carried-out in order to determine the level of some elements and the activity concentration of some radionuclides in soils around transformers in Akungba town. 9 Soil samples were taken beside transformers and 1 from a location with no transformer. Locations were determined with global positioning system. All samples were taken from a depth 5 cm below the topsoil. All the soil samples were analysed with Gamma ray spectrometry (with NaI thallium activated detector) for radioactivity level, while 3 of the soil samples were analysed with Energy Dispersive X- ray Fluorescence Spectrometry for elemental analysis. Out of the mean activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K, only 40K was higher than United Nations Scientific Committee on Effects of Atomic Radiation permissible limit. In elemental analysis, Iron was higher than United States Environmental Protection Agency Residential Soil Screening level (USEPA) in all the locations investigated; Manganese and Copper were both higher than USEPA in soil S5; and Manganese in S9 and Copper in S6 were higher than their USEPA standard. Residents in these areas, mostly children, who play on these soils and ingest them, are susceptible to hazardous health effects of 40K and these elements with high concentration.