Statistical Analysis and Radiological Assessment of Radon-222 Concentrations in Borehole Water from Giade, Bauchi State, Nigeria

Authors

Keywords:

Radon-222, Borehole water, Giade, Bauchi State, Radiological risk, Annual effective dose, Statistical analysis, Groundwater

Abstract

Radon-222 (²²²Rn) is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that poses potential health risks through ingestion and inhalation when dissolved in drinking water. This study presents the first comprehensive assessment of ²²²Rn concentrations in 10 borehole water samples from Giade Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeria. Samples were analyzed using a Tri-Carb Liquid Scintillation Analyzer 1000 at the Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Measured ²²²Rn concentrations ranged from 0.346 to 6.930 Bq/L, with a mean of 3.401 ± 2.128 Bq/L. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses (including normality tests, correlations with physicochemical parameters) were performed. Radiological risk assessment showed annual effective doses well below the WHO reference level of 0.1 mSv/y for all age groups. Excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) values were negligible. The results indicate that borehole water in Giade is radiologically safe for consumption, though continuous monitoring is recommended due to geological variability in the region.

Dimensions

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Published

2026-06-05

How to Cite

Statistical Analysis and Radiological Assessment of Radon-222 Concentrations in Borehole Water from Giade, Bauchi State, Nigeria. (2026). Nigerian Journal of Applied Physics, 2(2), 29-36. https://doi.org/10.62292/njap-v2i2-2026-63

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2026): Nigerian Journal of Applied Physics - Vol. 2 No. 2

Section

Articles
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Copyright (c) 2026 Umar Wadata, Emmanuel Joseph, Adamu N. Baba-Kutigi

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Statistical Analysis and Radiological Assessment of Radon-222 Concentrations in Borehole Water from Giade, Bauchi State, Nigeria. (2026). Nigerian Journal of Applied Physics, 2(2), 29-36. https://doi.org/10.62292/njap-v2i2-2026-63

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