Measurement of Gamma Radiation in an Automobile Mechanic Village in Abuja, North Central, Nigeria

Abstract

Environmental radiation measurement was carried out in an automobile mechanic village, Apo, Abuja, Nigeria. An in-situ measurement approach was adopted using RDS-200 Universal Survey Meter and a handheld Global Positioning System (Garmin GPS 76S) equipment. It was observed that the dose equivalent varied from 0.04 μSv/h to 0.22 μSv/h with a mean of 0.10± 0.03 μSv/h which is below the standard background radiation of 0.133 μSv/h The study also revealed that the average annual effective dose rate is approximately 0.20±0.06 mSv/yr which is lower than the value of 1.0 mSv/yr averaged over five consecutive years according to the dose limit placed by the Basic Safety Standards (BSS) SCHEDULE II and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) REPORT 60. This indicates that the automobile technicians, craftsmen and the people living and working within the area are safe and are not exposed to high doses of radiation as a result of activities in the Apo Automobile Mechanic Village.

Keywords: Radiation Measurement; Apo Automobile Mechanic Village; Background Radiation; DoseEquivalent; Annual Effective Dose; Automobile Technicians