Research Papers/Topics in Nuclear Safety and Security

Radiation Exposure to Natural Radioactivity in Crude Oil and Petroleum Waste from Oil Fields in Ghana; Modelling, Risk Assessment and Regulatory Control

ABSTRACT In this research work radiological hazards and risks to members of the public and workers from exposure to natural radioactivity as a result of crude oil production activities and waste generation from the Saltpond and Jubilee oilfields of Ghana have been investigated via several exposure pathways using alpha spectrometry after radiochemical separation, nondestructive gamma spectrometry, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Quadrupole-Based Mass Spectrom...

Atmospheric Pollution Assessment from a Mountainous Environment in Southern Ghana: Case Study of Abetifi

ABSTRACT  In the pursuit to improve man’s livelihood, human activities which include emission of heavy metals from various industries and sectors, as well as the past use of chemicals such as pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and flame retardants have often mobilized and redistributed natural substances and anthropogenic pollutants into the atmosphere, predisposing it to relatively high concentrations of such pollutants even in pristine areas in the environment. This study assessed the...

A Theoretical And Experimental Dose Rates Study at A Multipurpose Gamma Irradiation Facility IN GHANA

ABSTRACT Radiation dose rate monitoring out at the Radiation Technology Centre (RTC) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) to establish the safety or otherwise of staff at the occupied areas is presented. The facility operates a rectangular source of Co-60 gamma with an having activity of 27.4kCi as at March 2015 and has 14 workers. The aim of the research was determine by means of practical and theoretical evaluations shielding effectiveness of the irradiation chamber. This was to en...

Assessment Of Health Risks Due To Toxic Metals And Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials In The Birim River In East Akim Municipality Of The Eastern Region Ghana

ABSTRACT A detailed study has been carried out to determine the health risk associated with the level of trace metals and naturally occurring radioactive materials in the Birim River in East Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region of Ghana. The river runs through several communities in the municipality and serves as the main source of drinking water, irrigation and for domestic purposes. However, small-scale mining activities in the area are deteriorating the quality of the river water. Resul...

RE-Assessment of RadiologicalL Hazards of Naturally Occuring Radioactive Materials (Norm) From The Jubilee Oilfields OF Ghana

ABSTRACT This study re-assesses the radiological hazards of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) on workers and the general public due to continuous exploration and production of crude oil and waste generated from the Jubilee Oilfields of Ghana. The specific activities of 234U, 238U, 230Th, 232Th, 226Ra, 210Pb, 234Th, 228Ra, 224Ra and 40K in crude oil and NORM waste samples have been estimated using Sodium Iodide detector and alpha spectrometry after radiochemical separation. A t...

Risk Assessment from Intake of Naturally Occuring Radioactive Materials in some Bottled Drinking Water on the Ghanaian Market

ABSTRACT  Activity concentrations of the Naturally Ocurring Radioactive Materials (NORMs) in some bottled water brands were analyzed using gamma spectrometry. 40K activity concentrations were in the range of 3.57-5.47Bq/L, the highest occurring in brand L9. Similarly 232 Th activity concentrations were in the range of 0.30-0.56 Bq/L with the highest occurring in brand L8. 226Ra was identified in eleven brands with the remaining five below detection limit. The highest value (0.53Bq/L) occurr...