Determination of radon exhalation rates from sand of some beaches in Lagos, Nigeria and Benin

Abstract

The activities of radon content in three seawater samples taken from Lagos and Benin Republic (Sultan, Seme kpoji, and Ojo) Beaches are the focus of the current study. The seawater samples were analyzed using the RAD-7 detector to obtain activity concentration. The obtained values for radon activity concentration are 1800.0 ± 1400 Bq/m3, 3500.0 ± 1900 Bq/m3, and 5500.0±2300 Bq/m3, respectively. The findings showed that the radon concentration levels were higher than the safe levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The estimated radiation hazard indices, which include equilibrium equivalent radon concentration, potential alpha energy concentration, annual absorbed dose, annual equivalent dose, excess lifetime cancer risk, and lung cancer cases per million people per year, were outside of acceptable limits. However, monitoring the environment for Radon against respiratory cancer is crucial for public health. The result of this study adds more data to knowledge.