Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity within Dangote Cement Escavation Site Gboko, Benue State.

Abstract

The radioactivity of rocks from Dangote Cement excavation site in Gboko, Benue State were monitored and measured using the radiation meter inspector 06250 and dose meter 6150AD 2/4/6. The meters measure the dose rate, exposure rate and the activity. The meters were held 1 meter above the surface of the soil at the excavation site. Each reading was taken 10 times at varying distances between zero and 100 meters from the excavation site after which the mean readings for each of the distance were then found. Finally, the background count was taken 200 meters away from the excavation point. The highest value of dose equivalent rate of 0.428±0.006 mSv/yr, exposure rate of 0.206±0.003 mR/hr and activity of 6.8±0.4kBq were measured at zero distance from the excavation point while the least value of dose equivalent rate of 0.212±0.002 mSv/yr, exposure rate of 0.081±0.001 mR/hr and activity of 3.2±0.8kBq were obtained at 100 meters away from the excavation point. The result shows that the excavation site is within the safety limit set by the international commission on Radiological protection (ICRP) (1990).