Water, Energy, Food and Environment
Journal license

Journal

Water, Energy, Food and Environment


Volume
& Issue

Volume 3, Issue 1


Published
on

January 1, 2022


Pages

13-23


DOI

Article

Geo-Accumulation Index of Radioactive Trace Elements (40K, 226Ra and 232Th) Across Mining Sites of Barkin Ladi and Mangu, Plateau State, Nigeria.

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Authors

J. Waida Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Borno State University, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
, U. Rilwan* Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Nigerian Army University, Biu, Borno State, Nigeria.
, S. I. Ikpughul Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Nigerian Army University, Biu, Borno State, Nigeria.
, Andrew Adamu Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Nigerian Army University, Biu, Borno State, Nigeria.
and Kabiru S. Madaki


Abstract

Carcinogenic substances are those that induce tumors (benign or malignant), increase their incidence or malignancy or shorten the time of tumor occurrence when they get into the body through inhalation, injection, dermal application or ingestion. The aim of this work is to unveil the extent to which radioactive trace elements (40K, 226Ra and 232Th) accumulates in soil, water and edible plants and assess their carcinogenic role to biological tissue that might result in cancer. The results showed that the soil in Barkin Ladi, has the mean I geo decreasing in the order of 40K (7.744) > 232Th (4.642) > 226Ra (3.886). The soil in Mangu, has the mean I geo decreasing in the order of 40K (7.705) > 232Th (4.382) > 226Ra (4.128). The water in Barkin Ladi, has the mean I geo decreasing in the order of 232Th 40K (7.685) > 232Th (4.598) > 226Ra (3.804). The water in Mangu, has the mean I geo decreasing in the order of 40K (7.575) > 232Th (4.303) > 226Ra (4.037). The edible plants in Barkin Ladi, has the mean I geo decreasing in the order of 40K (7.582) > 232Th (4.496) > 226Ra (3.540). The edible plants in Mangu, has the mean I geo decreasing in the order of 40K (7.520) > 232Th (4.122) > 226Ra (3.817). Based on the findings of this study, 100 % of the area under study has its geo-accumulation index ratio “> 1” which implies higher accumulation of trace element in soil, plant and water. It can therefore be concluded that the water, soil and edible plants in the study area are issue of health concern which on high consumption without regulatory control can lead to cancer effects, even though, researches of contamination factor and pollution load index of the radioactive trace elements in the study areas are recommended.


Keywords

Radioactive Trace Element, Soil, Plant, Water, Contamination Factor


Citation

Waida, J., Rilwan, U., Ikpughul, S. I., Adamu, A., & Madaki, K. S. (2022). Geo-accumulation index of radioactive trace elements (40K, 226Ra and 232Th) across mining sites of barkin ladi and mangu, plateau state, nigeria. Water, Energy, Food and Environment, 3(1), 13–23. https://doi.org/10.18576/wefej/030102

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