[01] Nimat Omowumi Abdulazeez, Department of Science Infrastructure, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Idu Industrial Area, Abuja, Nigeria. [02] Emmanuel Osiewundo Ojo, Department of Science Infrastructure, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Idu Industrial Area, Abuja, Nigeria. [03] Hammed Olanrewaju Shittu, Department of Science Infrastructure, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Idu Industrial Area, Abuja, Nigeria.

Water, irrespective of its sources is extensively used by man, animal and for our environment. The presence of natural radionuclides in it results in internal and external exposure to the public. Therefore, it is needful to determine the concentration of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs), namely: ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in water samples collected at different locations in Abuja, FCT. 14water (boreholes) samples were collected from seven different locations in FCT Abuja. In order to measure the specific activities in these samples, Gamma-ray spectrometer was used for the analysis of the samples. The result of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K showed that the activity concentration values of various samples analyzed varies from (1.06±1.07 to 5.44±0.05, 2.04±0.30 to 8.04±0.87, and 4.41±4.40 to 26.39±2.37) respectively. From the result it is clear that the mean concentration of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K are below the safety limit of 35, 30 and 400Bq/l respectively as recommended. The Absorbed Gamma Dose Rate (AGDR) in the study fall below the standard set safe limits recommended, in all the samples. The mean Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDEq), Annual Gonnadial Dose Equivalent (AGDEq) and Excess Life time Cancer Risk (ELCR) were higher than the safe limit. The findings of the study show that the radiation exposure level of the areas is significantly high and could be harmful to human health.

Natural Radioactivity, Radiological Hazards, NaI (Tl) Detector, Gamma-Ray Spectrometry

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