Evaluation of Radiation Health Risk in Major Automobile Mechanic Villages in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Humans are continuously exposed to natural and artificial radiation sources, and while ionizing radiation can damage cells and DNA depending on dose and exposure levels, its effects are generally negligible when kept within accepted safety limits. An In-situ measurement of background ionizing radiation was carried out using a well calibrated GMC–30E-Plus Nuclear radiation meter, and Geographical positioning system (GPS) to record the geographical coordinates. For the Ikoku mechanic village the exposure rate ranged from 0.002± 0.001(mR/h) to 0.015±0.02(mR/h) with a mean value of 0.011±0.03(mR/h) which is quite lower than the world average of 0.013(mR/h), the absorbed dose ranged from 17.4(nGy/h) to 130.5(nGy/h) with an overall mean of 94.17± 22.71 (nGy/h) and is slightly higher than 89 (nGy/h), the AEDE range from 0.03 (mSv/y) to 0.2 (mSv/y) with an overall mean of 0.14±0.04 (mSv/y) and is within the acceptable limit of 1 (mSv/y) as recommended by ICRP, and the ELCR ranged from 0.09x10ˉ³ to 0.70x10ˉ³ with an overall mean of 0.51x10ˉ³ which is higher than the world average of 0.29x10ˉ³. For the Mile-3 Mechanic Village the exposure rate ranged from 0.002±0.002(mR/h) to 0.005±0.02(mR/h) with an overall mean value of 0.008±0.03(mR/h) with an overall mean of 85.21± 23.05(nGy/h) and is lower than the world average of 89 (nGy/h), the AEDE range from 0.12 (mSv/y) to 0.15 (mSv/y) with an overall mean of 0.13±0.04 (mSv/y) which lies within the limit of 1 (mSv/y) as recommended by ICRP, and the ELCR ranged from 0.42x10ˉ³ to 0.51x10ˉ³ with an overall mean of 0.46x10ˉ³ and is slightly higher than the world average of 0.291x10ˉ³. From the results obtained, it reveals that the probability of developing radiological health related issues is eminent after a prolong exposure in the locations, although it may not pose immediate radiological threats at the moment, but in order to be on a safe ground, it is highly recommended that various anthropogenic activities that might increase the BIR levels in these locations should be minimized and routine checkup should be carried out for effective monitoring.