Background Ionizing Radiation (BIR) in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This investigation was conducted in the communities of Ogbia Local Government Area in Bayelsa state. Three localities were chosen for this study based on the criteria that they serve as host communities for international oil firms. These communities are Imiringi, Elebele, and Emeyal, located within the Ogbia local government area.  The research used a standard Radiation Monitoring Device, namely the Radalert x100. The ambient ionising radiation (BIR) in the three villages was measured randomly. Readings were collected from five different places, as shown in the tables below. At 0.009mSv/y, the Emeyal community recorded the lowest Background Ionising Radiation (BIR) mean value, whilst the Imiringi community had the highest value, at 0.014mSv/y. A mean BIR value of 0.011mSv/y was recorded by the Elebele community.  The absorbed dose rate (AbD) ranged from 0.075nGy/h in Emeyal to 0.120nGy/h in Imiringi, with the former having the lowest value. The average AbD value for Elebele was a 0.096nGy/h. Emeyal has the lowest known mean Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE) rate of a 0.115mSv/y. The average AEDE measured in Elebele was 0.147 mSv/y, while in Imiringi and Elebele it was 0.184mSv/y. What follows is a breakdown of the three groups' average ELCR values: The mean values for the three groups were as follows: 0.405 x10-3 for Elebele, 0.508 x10-3 for Imiringi, and 0.317 x10-3 for Emeyal. The UNSCEAR 2000 World Permissible Limit was used as a benchmark for comparing the generated values. There is no imminent risk to the health of individuals in the research area from radiation.