Edu Inam, Inime I. Udoh, Kufre E. Ite, and Hillary I. Inyang
Water quality, human health protection, cancer mortality and morbidity risk
The activity concentrations of 40K, 238U, and 232Th in drinking water sources in oil and gas producing communities of Akwa Ibom State were measured using gamma ray spectroscopic system. The results obtained were used to calculate human health chemical and radiological risk over lifetime consumption by the population. The overall average activity concentrations of 40K, 238U, and 232Th were found to be 112.2; 8.5; and 9.7 Bq.L-1, respectively. The results for the following communities Eket, Esit Eket and Eastern Obolo revealed concentrations higher than acceptable safe limits, while those of Ibeno, Ikot Abasi and Uyo were lower or within safe limits. The radiological risks for cancer mortality and morbidity for the three nuclides were in the range of 10-3 to 10-4, respectively. Chemical toxicity ranged from 36 to 216 µg.kg-1.day-1 for 40K, 3 to 216 µg.kg-1.day-1 for 238U and 4 to 18 µg.kg-1.day-1 for 232Th. Similarly, values for Eket, Esit Eket and Eastern Obolo were found to be higher than the recommended acceptable safe level by various international organizations, while those of Ibeno, Ikot Abasi and Uyo were below. The overall results reveal that there are health risks associated with the presence of 40K, 238U, and 232Th in water used for drinking and domestic purposes by these communities mainly attributable to chemical toxicity. There is urgent need for actions to protect public health in the affected communities.
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