Impact Factor (2025): 6.9
DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET
The study
was carried out to evaluate the radioactivity concentrations of 40K,
232Th and 238U in five maize samples collected from maize
farms within Ekiti State, Nigeria. The activity concentration measurements were
determined using n – type co-axial HPGe detectors for the state. The activity
concentrations were found to vary from 994.67 – 2457.01 Bq Kg-1 for 40K,
32.84 – 91.88 Bq kg-1 for 232Th and 43.21 – 97.77 Bq kg-1
for 238U respectively. The annual effective dose to individuals from
the consumption of the Maize was estimated on the basis of the measured
radionuclides content in the food crop which ranged between 0.41 and 1.51 m Svy-1
respectively. The value1.04 m Svy-1 were obtained for the state as
the mean total annual effective dose. The mean excess life time cancer risk was
also calculated to be 2.06x10-9. The value was compared with the
internationally acceptable limits and found to be far less to the maximum
permissible dose of 1.0 x10-3 recommended for the public by the
United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. Hence,
the maize was found to be safe for human consumption.
Country : Nigeria
IRJIET, Volume 8, Issue 10, October 2024 pp. 17-24