Blessing Ijabor - Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria
Akintayo Omojola - Radiology Department, Medical Physics Unit, Federal Medical Centre Asaba, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria
Augustine Nwabuoku - Department of Physics, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria
Funmilayo Omojola - Department of Cancer Biology and Therapy, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom

The study is aimed at measuring the outdoor background ionizing radiation (BIR), the absorbed dose rate (ADR), the annual effective dose (AED) and excessive lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) at four sites in the Aniocha South local government area (LGA) of Delta State, denoted as A-D. The study was performed using a calibrated Geiger-Muller (GM) detector (Radiation Alert Inspector) as well as a geographic positioning system (GPS) to determine the longitude and latitude of each site. The average (range) outdoor BIR, ADR, and AED were ۰.۰۲۱±۰.۰۱ (۰.۰۱-۰.۰۴) mR/hr, ۱۸۱.۶±۷۷.۷ (۶۰.۹-۳۲۲.۸) nGy/hr, and ۰.۲۲±۰.۱۰ (۰.۰۷-۰.۴۰) mSv/yr, respectively. Among the processing sites, the average AED for granite, bitumen, and staff residential areas were ۰.۳۱, ۰.۱۲, and ۰.۱۷ mSv/yr, while surface measurements at the "burnt stone" had the highest AED (۰.۴۱ mSv/yr). ADR and AED were both considerably higher than the world average of ۵۹ nGy/hr and ۰.۰۷ mSv/yr. The average effective lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) (۰.۷۷× ۱۰-۳) was higher compared to the world average of (۰.۲۵× ۱۰-۳), with the highest in the granites. The ELCR risk band indicated a concern for increased cancer risk. Educating the public about actions to reduce their exposure to environmental carcinogens is necessary.

Background ionizing radiation (BIR), global positioning system (GPS), radionuclide, Granite, Bitumen