Radioactivity effects of Jos tin mine tailings

The activity concentration of ''2''3''8U and ''2''3''2Th in Jos tin mine tailings was measured using High Purity Germanium detector (HPGe) in the Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Preset counting time of 30,000s was used for each sample to avoid statistical errors. Results showed the activities varied from one site to another. The highest concentration of both ''2''3''8U and ''2''3''2Th was consistently obtained in APT1Dru sample which was collected from monazite separation site. The activity of ''2''3''8U measured range from 1.88±0.24 Bq/kg to 784.250±3.9 Bq/kg while the activity of ''2''3''2Th obtained range from 1.83± 0.16 Bq/kg to 3616.13±38.08 Bq/kg. The ratio of activity of Thorium to Uranium is greater by factor of 5 in all samples. The hot spot is APT1Dru site so also THS1 and APT1A1 can be said to hot because of high activity measured. Generally, the tailings contain both ''2''3''8U and ''2''3''2Th in high proportion which is traceable to the health concern of the inhabitants and most especially those who use the tailings for construction of dwelling and farming