Natural Radioelements Concentration Analysis and Risk Assessment in Drinking Water of Mining Area Niger State, North Central Nigeria

In this study, gamma spectrometry analysis was performed to determine the activity concentration of ⁴⁰ K, ²²⁶ Ra, and ²³² Th in four different water sources in three different communities (Shakwata, Eregi, and Pina) in Niger State, north-central Nigeria. Total 20 water samples were analyzed. The activity concentration of ⁴⁰ K, ²²⁶ Ra, and ²³² Th in the water ranged from 0.35 ± 0.03 to 33.28 ± 2.97 Bq l⁻¹, 1.32 ± 0.07 l⁻¹ to 3.06 ± 0.18 Bq l⁻¹, and 0.85 ± 0.14 to 2.41 ± 0.15 Bq l⁻¹, respectively. For all five age groups, the annual effective dose from radionuclide intake in water sources across the three communities exceeded recommended limits, except in sample locations SW1, SW2, SW3, SW6, PWVI, and PWVII between the ages of 2-7 years and 7-12 years, where the ²³² Th level was found to be below the recommended limit of 1.0 mSv y⁻¹ set by ICRP. Therefore, considering that the annual effective dose exceeds the WHO and ICRP recommended guidelines, the water sources from the mining areas should be restricted to domestic use and not for public consumption except after treatment.