Estimating the Activity Concentration level, Absorbed Gamma Dose Rate, and Radiological Hazards around a Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Conduit Pipe factory in Asaba, Nigeria

This current study focuses on an in-situ estimation of activity concentration level of 238-U, 232-Th, 40-K, and Ra-eq, and associated radiological parameters in and around the selected sections of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) conduit pipe factory in Asaba, Nigeria, to ascertain their health risks and environmental hazards. A total number of twenty-two (22) sample points were measured from inside the raw material hall and production hall, outside the production hall, inside the offices, and in the control area of the PVC factory. The mean activity concentrations in the raw material and production hall were 14.57±3.69, 15.31±2.08, 263.55±33.44, and 79.40±5.39 Bq/kg for 238-U, 232-Th, 40-K, and Ra-eq, respectively; outside the production hall recorded 25.19±7.05, 24.52±3.92, 262.29±33.38, and 80.46±4.32 for 238-U, 232-Th, 40-K, and Ra-eq, respectively; inside the offices showed 25.19±2.20, 28.10±9.93, 531±33.41, and 106.29±4.09 Bq/kg for 238-U, 232-Th, 40-K, and Ra-eq, respectively; and in the control area there were 19.76±0.00, 15.43±8.96, 134.59±12.33, and 52.19±12.33 Bq/kg of mean activity concentration for 238-U, 232-Th, 40-K and Ra-eq respectively. These mean activity concentrations were found below the world mean value (WMV) in all the different sections of the study area except inside the offices, where the mean activity concentration of 40-K indicated above the world mean value for 40-K according to UNSCEAR, 2000. Also, the mean value of the calculated radiological parameters such as AGDE, AEDEin, AEDEex, TAEDE, Iy, HIin, HIex and ELCR in all the sections as well were found below the world mean value. These findings provide primary data that there are no possible health risks and environmental hazards due to the raw material, production process, and finished product of PVC conduit pipe in Asaba, South-South Nigeria.