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Abstract
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Article Information:
Natural Radioactivity Concentrations in Beach Sands from Some Tourists Resorts
H. Lawluvi, E.O. Darko, C. Schandorf, A. Fannu, A.R. Awudu and D.O. Kpeglo
Corresponding Author: Henry Klosalo Lawluvi
Submitted: 2011 June, 20
Accepted: 2011 August, 16
Published: 2011 November, 10 |
Abstract:
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Beaches along the coastlines in Ghana are important holiday destinations for tourists from many
countries around the world. The radiological quality of sand from these beaches is very important to assess
exposure of the public who use the beaches for recreational purposes and other activities. This study
investigates the levels and hazards associated with the U-Th series and 40 K in beach sands from some renowned
tourist resorts in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Samples of beach sand from eleven beaches were analyzed
using direct gamma-ray spectrometry. The total absorbed dose rate and the annual effective doses were
calculated. The radiation hazards and risks associated with the use of the beach sand as construction material
were also determined. The results show specific activities in the range 11.0-31.8 Bq/kg for 238U, 0.5-1.5 Bq/kg
for 235U, 10.9-103.7 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 16.8-231.2 Bq/kg for 232Th and 68.3-183.9 Bq/kg for 40K. Mean values of
the absorbed dose rate, annual external effective dose, radium equivalent activity, external and internal hazard
indices and the radiation level index are; 54.08 nGy/h, 0.066 mSv/y, 101.0 Bq/kg, 0.27, 0.36 and 0.71,
respectively. The 235U/238U activity ratios calculated for the beaches is in the range of 0.032-0.053 with an
average of 0.045±0.007 and that of the other radionuclides are close to unity, indicating only natural
radionuclides were detected in the samples investigated. The results are within the values found in literature
and show that the natural radionuclides in samples of the beach sand do not pose any significant risk to tourists
and other holiday makers. Sand from the beaches is also safe for use as construction material, indicating the
relevance in terms of the radiological quality of the beaches from both human and environmental health view
points.
Key words: Beach sand, dose rate, environmental radioactivity, gamma spectrometry, hazard index, ,
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Cite this Reference:
H. Lawluvi, E.O. Darko, C. Schandorf, A. Fannu, A.R. Awudu and D.O. Kpeglo, . Natural Radioactivity Concentrations in Beach Sands from Some Tourists Resorts. Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences, (6): 729-736.
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ISSN (Online): 2041-0492
ISSN (Print): 2041-0484 |
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