Estimation of soil-to-plant transfer factor across six local government areas of Kwara state, Nigeria

Adegbulugbe Samuel Kanmi; Umaru Ibrahim; N G Goki; U Rilwan; M I Sayyed; Taha Yaseen Wais; Berivan F Namq; Laith Ahmed Najam

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107548

Estimation of soil-to-plant transfer factor across six local government areas of Kwara state, Nigeria

J Environ Radioact. 2024 Oct 2:280:107548. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107548. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Adegbulugbe Samuel Kanmi¹, Umaru Ibrahim², N G Goki³, U Rilwan⁴, M I Sayyed⁵, Taha Yaseen Wais⁶, Berivan F Namq⁷, Laith Ahmed Najam⁸

Affiliations

¹ Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, Abuja, Nigeria; Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural and Applied Science, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural and Applied Science, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Department of Geology and Mining, Faculty of Natural and Applied Science, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural and Applied Science, Nigerian Army University, Biu, Borno State, Nigeria. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Isra University, Amman, Jordan; Department of Physics and Technical Sciences, Western Caspian University, Baku, Azerbaijan. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq; Chemical, Biological and Radiological Safety and Security Division, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Department of Basic Science, College of Dentistry, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁸ Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39362113
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107548

Abstract

Transfer factors (TFs) are among the necessary parameter values for the mathematical modeling of radiological pollution's environmental impact. In this study, ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K activity concentrations and TFs were estimated in 48 soil and plant samples through gamma-ray spectrometry NaI(Tl) in six selected areas of local governments in Kwara State, Nigeria. The findings revealed that the soil and plant samples' ²³⁸U and ²³²Th activity concentrations were within the radiological safety limits. The TFs of soil to plant fell within the worldwide ranges. A set of statistical tests were applied to verify the validity of the data, such as descriptive analysis, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, frequency distribution, and Spearman's correlation. The study reveals a skewed distribution in data. Spearman correlation coefficient analysis indicates a moderately negative correlation between ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K's activity concentrations and their respective TFs (TF_U, TF_Th, and TF_K). In terms of future research in the study area, it is hoped that the data from this study will contribute to improved scientific knowledge.

Keywords: Activity concentration; Natural radionuclides; Plants; Soil; Transfer factor.