Radio Levels in Soil and Food Samples in Mining Areas on the Jos-Plateau

Gross gamma and also gross alpha/beta radiation levels were detected and measured from the various mining sites and buildings around the mining sites. The results for some of the mining sites showed values above the ICRP limit of 1mSv/yr and 20mSv/yr for the general public and radiation workers respectively. This means that the Jos mines field environment has some health implication on the general public and therefore care must be taken to minimize the level of exposure of the populace by using proper disposal methods of the dumps. The activity concentrations for 40K, 226Ra and 232Th from the soil samples ranged from (93.3 ± 29.8 – 121831.8 ± 276.8) Bq/kg, (46.3 ± 11.3 – 19358.2 ± 1325.6) Bq/kg and (136.8 ± 11.4 – 340123.2 ± 1425.6) Bq/kg respectively. The activity concentrations of food samples ranged from (12. 36±0,82 - 56.92±8.84)Bq/kg , (1.46 ± 0.05 - 10.42 ± 0.04)Bq/kg,and (1.53 ± 0.08 - 6.85 ± 0.42) Bq/kg for 40K,226Ra and 232Th respectively. This showed that 40K is predominantly absorbed by all the food crops, probably because of its solubility and the addition of artificial fertilizers such as NPK during the process of cultivation.