Radiological and X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometric Analyses of Selected Inorganic Fertilizers in Zaria Kaduna State, Nigeria: Source of Possible Environmental Pollution
Abstract: This work investigated the presence and concentrations of heavy metals and the specific activity concentrations of radionuclides in selected inorganic fertilizers purchased from Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria using X-ray Fluorescence and gamma ray spectrometric techniques. The average concentrations of Cr, Ni, Si, V, and Zn were within the ranges in agricultural soils, except Sambuka fertilizer which recorded 72mg/kg average Cr concentration higher than in agricultural soils. The 40K activity concentration of the fertilizers ranged from 101Bq/kg to 2, 481Bq/kg with a mean of 566Bq/kg. The 226Ra activity concentration ranged from 22.99 Bqkg-1 to 34.48Bqkg-1 with a mean of 28.361.96 Bqkg-1.232Th has mean activity concentration of 57.33 0.74Bqkg-1 ranging from 40.71 to 77.10Bqkg-1. The air absorbed dose rate ranged from 53.91 to 144.90nGyh-1 with a mean of 72.31nGy h-1 which is higher than 51nGy/h Benchmark. The annual effective dose rate had an average of 88.37 Svy-1 ranging from 60.51 to 178.23Svy-1. The Raeq ranged from 113.06 to 207.69Bqkg-1 with a mean activity concentration of 134.843.130Bqkg-1which is far below the 370Bq/kg Benchmark. The Hex and Hin averaged 0.48 and 0.39 with ranges from 0.398 to 0.83 and 0.29 to 0.77 respectively.
Keywords: Elemental, Environmental Pollution, Inorganic Fertilizers, Natural radioactivity, Gamma Spectroscopy
How to Cite?: Elisha Jacob Jamok, Yisa Jonathan, Mann Abdullahi, Kolo Matthew, "Radiological and X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometric Analyses of Selected Inorganic Fertilizers in Zaria Kaduna State, Nigeria: Source of Possible Environmental Pollution", Volume 3 Issue 4, April 2014, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 86-93, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=20131312, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/20131312