Assessment of Radon Concentration in Groundwater Sources

In Mubo-North Metropolis, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Sachet water is a major drinking water in Mubi. This research assessed Potassium-40 (40K) radioactivity concentration in sachet water consumed by Mubi dwellers and the associated cancer risks. Samples from fifteen (15) sachet water brand were analyzed at Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT) Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABU) using gamma spectrometry. The results for the analysis showed that Potassium-40 concentration in sachet water from the sampling locations ranged from 36.08 – 98.91Bq/L and the cancer risk ranged from 0.0000082 – 0.000022 Risk/year for location M8 and M2 respectively. The results obtained for all the fifteen (15) sampling locations were below 0.1 Bq/L recommended screening limit by WHO and others radiation regulatory bodies. The sachet water from the companies were contaminant free, therefore pose no any cancer risk, even though the results were below the screening limit, it is important to keep on testing and treating the water quality time to time.