Radiological Evaluation Of The Concentration And Impact Of Oil And Gas Activities In Eruemukohwarien Area Of Southern Nigeria

The study was carried out in-situ using a Radalert 100 nuclear radiation monitor and a geographical positioning system (GPS). Five facilities were investigated at the rig site which included the rig site host community as well as the camp site for the oil workers at Ekapkamreh town. Ten 10 sampling locations were evaluated at a total of 60 study points. The values obtained range between 0.115±0.018 (µSv/hr) and 0.299±0.040 (µSv/hr) for the rig site environment, 0.111±0.006 (µSv/hr) and 0.337±0.031 (µSv/hr) for field logistic base (offices and workshops), 0.114±0.011 (µSv/hr) and 0.312±0.021 (µSv/hr) for components of the mud circulation section. Also, the radiological concentration of the Chemical Store ranged between 0.126±0.019 (µSv/hr) and 1.181±0.104 (µSv/hr), while the radiological values obtained from other facilities within the rig site ranged from 0.155±0.026 (µSv/hr) and 0.249±0.026 (µSv/hr). Radiation readings obtained for soil ranged from 0.149±0.05 (µSv/hr) to 0.219±0.025 (µSv/hr) and 0.114±0.039 (µSv/hr) to 0.219±0.051 (µSv/hr) respectively at the host community and camp site. Most of the results obtained showed that the general environment of the rig site is slightly above the permissible absorbed dose rate threshold of 0.15(µSv/hr) recommended by the United Nation Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) in 2009. However, the exposure rates exceed the standard background level of 13µR/hr (coequal to 0.13µSv/hr). There is high tendency for the industry workers to be exposed to radiation with time.