Radiological Assessment of Soil Samples Collected from Mining Sites in Ijero Ekiti, Ekiti State, Southwest, Nigeria

Measurements of radioactivity in soil samples from mining sites are vital for assessing environmental safety and public health risks. The primary radionuclides of concern in soil samples from mining areas are uranium-238, thorium-232, and potassium-40. Ijero-Ekiti, a prominent mining area in southwestern Nigeria, is known for the extraction of minerals. However, these mining activities can disturb naturally occurring radioactive materials leading to increased levels of radioactivity in soils. Prolonged exposure to such radionuclide can pose health risks to miners and residents. Present study aim to evaluate the levels of radioactivity in soil samples from the mining site in Ijero Ekiti in order to assess potential environmental and health risks using NaI(Tl) gamma ray spectrometer that is interfaced with a series of 10 plus Canberra Multi-channel Analyzer. The results of the findings show that the mean radioactivity concentration of K-40, Th-232, U-238 in the soil samples were of values 296.172 ± 10.94 (Bqkg⁻¹), 8.68 ± 18.84 Bqkg⁻¹ and 92.40 ± 93.41 respectively. The resulting radiation dose values obtained were low and may carry no serious radiological implications to the workers and the population in the vicinity of the mining sites. It is therefore recommended that further study should be carried out in the study area to ascertain the safety of the populace due to continuous mining activities in the area and the used of modern mining equipment which may contribute to the radioactivity level of the soil.