Alpha and beta radioactivity concentration assessments in drinking water along the Kumbotso pipeline, Kano

This study investigates the concentrations of gross alpha and beta activities in tap water samples collected from Kumbotso local government, reporting values ranging from 0.04 ± 0.01 BqL−1 to 0.9 ± 0.28 BqL−1 for gross alpha activities, and 0.7 ± 0.8 BqL−1 to 85.1 ± 11.7 BqL−1 for gross beta activities. The findings reveal that gross beta activities exceed their alpha counterparts across all tap water samples, with both surpassing the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended thresholds of 0.1 BqL−1 for gross alpha and 1.0 BqL−1 for gross beta activities. This indicates an annual effective dose exceeding WHO’s reference level of 0.1 mSvy−1, highlighting a significant radiological risk to residents. The most vulnerable areas identified are Dorayi-1 and Gasau-2, where the annual effective dose rates are markedly higher than the recommended limits for adults and children. This work provides baseline radiometric data for tap and drinking water in the region, emphasizing the need for public awareness and immediate mitigation efforts to address these potential health hazards. Moreover, the findings underscore the importance of further research to confirm and expand upon these results, aiming to safeguard public health through informed policy and infrastructure improvements.