Evaluation of Radiological Hazard Indices of Oniru Beach, Lagos, Nigeria Using Measurements of Natural Radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K

Adeniji Moradeyo Asifat; Adewoyin Kehinde Adeniyi; Jimoh Rafiu Atanda

doi:10.59474/nuclear.2023.66

EN TR

Evaluation of Radiological Hazard Indices of Oniru Beach, Lagos, Nigeria Using Measurements of Natural Radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K

Abstract

This study assesses the radiological risks associated with naturally occurring radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K present in the sands of Oniru Beach, situated in Lagos, Nigeria. These radionuclides, naturally present in geological materials, can pose health hazards when found in elevated concentrations, especially in areas with regular human activity such as recreational beaches. Gamma-ray spectrometry was employed to measure the activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U, and ²³²Th in sand samples collected from multiple points along the beach. The mean activity concentrations recorded were 10.85 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ²³⁸U, 9.25 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ²³²Th, and 265 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ⁴⁰K. The potential radiological impacts of these concentrations were evaluated to determine their hazard indices. These include the radium equivalent activity (Raeq), estimated at 44.5 Bq·kg⁻¹, the external hazard index (Hex) of 0.120, and the internal hazard index (Hin) of 0.149. The absorbed dose rate (D) of 21.66 nGy∙h-1; the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) of 0.0266 mSv/y; and the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) estimated at 9.30×10⁻². When compared with internationally recognized safety thresholds, such as those set by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), all the calculated indices fall well below recommended limits. This suggests that exposure to sand at Oniru Beach does not present any significant radiological hazard to public health.

Keywords

Evaluation of Radiological Hazard Indices of Oniru Beach, Lagos, Nigeria Using Measurements of Natural Radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K

Öz

This study assesses the radiological risks associated with naturally occurring radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K present in the sands of Oniru Beach, situated in Lagos, Nigeria. These radionuclides, naturally present in geological materials, can pose health hazards when found in elevated concentrations, especially in areas with regular human activity such as recreational beaches. Gamma-ray spectrometry was employed to measure the activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U, and ²³²Th in sand samples collected from multiple points along the beach. The mean activity concentrations recorded were 10.85 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ²³⁸U, 9.25 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ²³²Th, and 265 Bq·kg⁻¹ for ⁴⁰K. The potential radiological impacts of these concentrations were evaluated to determine their hazard indices. These include the radium equivalent activity (Raeq), estimated at 44.5 Bq·kg⁻¹, the external hazard index (Hex) of 0.120, and the internal hazard index (Hin) of 0.149. The absorbed dose rate (D) of 21.66 nGy∙h-1; the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) of 0.0266 mSv/y; and the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) estimated at 9.30×10⁻². When compared with internationally recognized safety thresholds, such as those set by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), all the calculated indices fall well below recommended limits. This suggests that exposure to sand at Oniru Beach does not present any significant radiological hazard to public health.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Ethical Statement

We, the authors, confirm that this manuscript, submitted for consideration and possible publication in this journal, does not require ethics committee review or approval

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Nuclear Physics , Nuclear and Plasma Physics (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Adeniji Moradeyo Asifat ^*
0000-0002-9361-6116
Nigeria

Adewoyin Kehinde Adeniyi
0009-0006-6033-619X
Nigeria

Jimoh Rafiu Atanda
0000-0002-2366-0736
Nigeria

Publication Date

February 6, 2026

Submission Date

December 7, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 3, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.59474/nuclear.2023.66

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA58MP97WT

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Asifat, A. M., Adeniyi, A. K., & Atanda, J. R. (2026). Evaluation of Radiological Hazard Indices of Oniru Beach, Lagos, Nigeria Using Measurements of Natural Radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K. Journal of Nuclear Sciences, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.59474/nuclear.2023.66

AMA

1.Asifat AM, Adeniyi AK, Atanda JR. Evaluation of Radiological Hazard Indices of Oniru Beach, Lagos, Nigeria Using Measurements of Natural Radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K. Journal of Nuclear Sciences. 2026;10(1). doi:10.59474/nuclear.2023.66

Chicago

Asifat, Adeniji Moradeyo, Adewoyin Kehinde Adeniyi, and Jimoh Rafiu Atanda. 2026. “Evaluation of Radiological Hazard Indices of Oniru Beach, Lagos, Nigeria Using Measurements of Natural Radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K”. Journal of Nuclear Sciences 10 (1). https://doi.org/10.59474/nuclear.2023.66.

EndNote

Asifat AM, Adeniyi AK, Atanda JR (February 1, 2026) Evaluation of Radiological Hazard Indices of Oniru Beach, Lagos, Nigeria Using Measurements of Natural Radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K. Journal of Nuclear Sciences 10 1

IEEE

[1]A. M. Asifat, A. K. Adeniyi, and J. R. Atanda, “Evaluation of Radiological Hazard Indices of Oniru Beach, Lagos, Nigeria Using Measurements of Natural Radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K”, Journal of Nuclear Sciences, vol. 10, no. 1, Feb. 2026, doi: 10.59474/nuclear.2023.66.

ISNAD

Asifat, Adeniji Moradeyo - Adeniyi, Adewoyin Kehinde - Atanda, Jimoh Rafiu. “Evaluation of Radiological Hazard Indices of Oniru Beach, Lagos, Nigeria Using Measurements of Natural Radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K”. Journal of Nuclear Sciences 10/1 (February 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.59474/nuclear.2023.66.

JAMA

1.Asifat AM, Adeniyi AK, Atanda JR. Evaluation of Radiological Hazard Indices of Oniru Beach, Lagos, Nigeria Using Measurements of Natural Radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K. Journal of Nuclear Sciences. 2026;10. doi:10.59474/nuclear.2023.66.

MLA

Asifat, Adeniji Moradeyo, et al. “Evaluation of Radiological Hazard Indices of Oniru Beach, Lagos, Nigeria Using Measurements of Natural Radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K”. Journal of Nuclear Sciences, vol. 10, no. 1, Feb. 2026, doi:10.59474/nuclear.2023.66.

Vancouver

1.Adeniji Moradeyo Asifat, Adewoyin Kehinde Adeniyi, Jimoh Rafiu Atanda. Evaluation of Radiological Hazard Indices of Oniru Beach, Lagos, Nigeria Using Measurements of Natural Radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K. Journal of Nuclear Sciences. 2026 Feb. 1;10(1). doi:10.59474/nuclear.2023.66