In-situ determination of terrestrial gamma dose rate within Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso southwest Nigeria

Abstract

The understanding of terrestrial gamma radiation and its effect on human being is intertwined with advancements in radiation science, health physics, and environmental monitoring. It is in view of this that the study investigated the terrestrial radiation level within Ladoke Akintola University Technology Main Campus (MC), College of Health Sciences (CHS) and Teaching Hospital (TH) of the institution. A total of 137 sampling points were assessed for terrestrial gamma dose rate using a portable radiation dosimeter. The measured dose rate was subjected to statistical analysis using analysis of variance with a Tukey post-hoc test. The results of the gamma dose rates ranged from 0.10 - 0.22 µSvhr-1, with mean values of 0.150 µSvhr-1 for MC, 0.11 - 0.24 µSvhr-1 with a mean value of 0.152 µSvhr-1 for CH, and 0.10 - 0.22 µSvhr-1 with a mean value of 0.170 µSvhr-1 for TH. The statistical analysis and the post-hoc test revealed that the medical activities involving the use of radiation at the TH contributed significantly to the dose level of the environment at p = 0.05. The estimated annual effective dose equivalent ranged from 0.18 to 0.42 mSvyr-1 which is within the recommended limit of 1 mSvyr-1 for the public set by International Commission on Radiological Protection. The findings of this study provide valuable information on the radiation level of three studied environments and hereby recommended that the general public be radiation cautious by minimizing the amount of time spent within the environment of teaching hospital to mitigate the radiological hazard.