SURVEY OF BACKGROUND IONIZATION RADIATION LEVEL IN BURUTU L.G.A, COASTAL AREA OF DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Background Ionizing radiation level (BIR) survey of some selected communities in Burutu Local government area of Delta State, Nigeria were carried out. An in- situ measurement approach was adopted using two (2), well calibrated Geiger muller counters nuclear radiation meters Radalert-100 and Digilert. Also, a geographical positioning system (GPS 76 CSX) was used for locations. Ten (10) readings were taken in each of the five different communities making a total of fifty (50) readings in all. The mean background Ionizing radiation values in all the five communities ranges from 0.0153±0.003 mR/hr to 0.0159±0.003 mR/h with average value of 0.0156±0.003 mR/h. All the background ionizing radiation level obtained values exceeded the normal world average BIR level of 0.013 mR/h. The mean Absorbed Dose Rate values ranges from 1.2866 mSv/y to 1.3371 mSv/y with average value of 1.3153 mSv/y. The results showed that all studied communities yearly absorbed dose rate exceeded the 1.0 mSv/y maximum permissible limit recommend for the public and non-nuclear industrial environment by International Council on Radiological Protection. However, results obtained do not indicate any immediate health side effects on the communities dwellers but may pose some long-term health side effects on the dwellers.