Evaluation of Ambient Gamma Radiation Levels and Associated Radiological Health Risks in Selected Block Industries of Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area, Katsina State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjorae.2026.0301.88Keywords:
Ambient gamma radiation, Background ionizing radiation, Block-manufacturing industries, Annual effective dose, Excess lifetime cancer risk, Occupational exposureAbstract
Ambient gamma radiation arising from naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in geological formations and construction materials contributes to occupational radiation exposure in block-manufacturing industries. This study evaluated ambient gamma radiation levels and associated radiological health risks in seventeen selected block industries in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area, Katsina State, Nigeria. Indoor and outdoor ambient gamma dose rates were measured in situ using a calibrated Bosean F-S 5000 Geiger-Müller radiation survey meter, while the geographical coordinates of each sampling location were recorded using a handheld Global Positioning System (GPS). Annual Effective Dose (AED) and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) were estimated following the recommendations of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, Shapiro–Wilk normality tests, paired-samples t-tests, and Pearson correlation analysis, were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0. The measured indoor and outdoor ambient gamma dose rates ranged from 0.1467–0.1900 µSv h⁻¹ and 0.1067–0.1967 µSv h⁻¹, with mean values of 0.165 ± 0.013 µSv h⁻¹ and 0.162 ± 0.027 µSv h⁻¹, respectively. Although these values exceeded the UNSCEAR worldwide average external terrestrial gamma dose rate, no statistically significant difference was observed between indoor and outdoor measurements (p > 0.05). The estimated annual effective doses remained well below the ICRP occupational dose limit of 20 mSv y⁻¹, while the corresponding ELCR values indicated low long-term radiological risk. The observed radiation levels are primarily attributable to naturally occurring radionuclides in construction materials rather than anthropogenic sources. Overall, the investigated block industries are radiologically safe under current operating conditions, providing valuable baseline data for environmental radiation monitoring, occupational health surveillance, and regulatory decision-making in Nigeria.
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