Determination of natural radioactivity and radiological hazard associated with sediments sourced from Ogunpa River channels, Ibadan, Nigeria

The natural radionuclides content and radiological assessment of sediments of the Ogunpa waste-water channel were evaluated to ascertain the radiological safety of the sediments as a building material. The mean activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th in Bq kg^-1 were found to be 171 ± 69, 11 ± 5 and 10 ± 4, respectively. The overall mean radium equivalent 29 ± 13 Bq kg^-1 was <370 Bq kg^-1 that can give the maximum recommended dose of 1 mSv to the general public. The activity concentrations of the radionuclides were all less than world average for soils and sediments. Thus, the use of the sediments from the Ogunpa water channel as building material is safe and would not pose any significant radiological health hazards. (authors)