The Radiological Impact of a Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsite on Soil and Groundwater Using Gamma Ray Spectroscopy

The radiological impact of a municipal solid waste dumpsite on soil and groundwater in Port Harcourt municipality was investigated by gamma-ray spectroscopy. The objective of the study was to evaluate the radioactivity concentrations in soil and groundwater within the landfill. Results show that the soil and ground water have been contaminated by dumpsite emissions and radioactive materials throughout the landfill. The average value of absorbed dose rates of 52.49nGy hr-1 and 10.97nGy hr-1 were obtained for soil and groundwater respectively. The average value of dose rate equivalents of 0.46mSv yr-1 and 0.09mSv yr-1 were obtained for the soil and groundwater samples respectively. These therefore, have no immediate radiological health burden on the inhabitants who depends on the soil and groundwater for their crops and potable water supply. The monitoring of radionuclides in soil and groundwater samples is very important and the practice of planting crops by farmers and consumption of groundwater within the landfill should be discouraged to prevent inhalation and ingestion of these radionuclides in humans. However, with continuous consumption of crop products and intake of groundwater, increase in the activity concentration and dose rates of these radionuclides may occur over time, which will have adverse effects on the inhabitants.