Health Risk Assessment of Human Exposures to Radiation Emanating from Radon in Groundwater from Parts of Damaturu Metropolitan Yobe State, Northeastern Nigeria

Groundwater is an important and vital water resources, its demand had increased due to increase in population and enhanced standards of living. In this study a total of 30 water samples from borehole and well water were analyzed using Rad7 (Durrige) radon detector to determine radon concentration from parts of Damaturu metropolitan. The data generated was then used to evaluate radiological hazards posed to the public. The radon (Rn-222) concentration in the surface water varied from 0.35 to 3.08Bq/L with a mean value of 1.23±0.09Bq/L against the global average of 11Bq/L and thoron (Rn-220) was not detected in the ground water. In other to assess hazards due to radon concentration in the water to the people, the annual effective doses (AED) were computed. For ingestion of radon in water the AED varied from 1.14 to 7.86?Sv/y with a mean value of 3.11±0.34 ?Sv/y while inhalation of radon from water varied from 1.03 to 8.57?Sv/y with a mean value 1.26±0.28 ?Sv/y respectively. The total AED due to ingestion and inhalation of radon in water ranged from 1.10 to 5.87?Sv/y with a mean value of 1.14±0.38 ?Sv/y. The results for water radon concentration have shown that people are safe for using the water for drinking, cooking bathing and other domestic purposes.