MEASUREMENT OF BACKGROUND IONIZATION RADIATION FOR SOME GAS FILLING STATION IN PORT-HARCOURT

MEASUREMENT OF BACKGROUND IONIZATION RADIATION FOR SOME GAS FILLING STATION IN PORT-HARCOUR

ABSTRACT

Human is exposed to background radiation in their environment with or without their consent; and the exposure to natural background radiation is an unpreventable event on earth. The assessment was conducted for the determination of the amount of background ionization radiation level of some gas filling station in Port-Harcourt. This was carried out using RDS-200 Universal Survey Meter. The assessment was done on thirty 5 gas filling station where four (4) readings were taken in each of the gas station in order to have a reliable data. The value of the annual dose rates of the gas station ranges from 0. 63mSv/yr  to 1.44mSv/yr. The radiation levels in the gas station were found to be within the safe limit. This shows a relatively high emission of background radiation from these gas station as compared with the world’s average of lmSv/yr and set by ICRF. These results would serve as a baseline upon which other exposures would be assessed and in the future, serve as reference for dosimetry and decontamination in situation of radiation poisoning of these cafes.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

Human exposure to background radiation is unavoidable. This is because we live in a “sea of radiation’. It is omnipresence nature in the atmosphere, terrestrial deposits and in our body makes it a unique area of assessing energy in our environment.Background Radiation is a long wavelength electromagnetic radiation that hits the earth uniformly from all direction. It represents energy left over from the “big bang” the explosion of the beginning of the universe. What makes it a background radiation is because of man’s environment most people often associate the word radiation with lionizing radiation (e.g as occurring in nuclear weapons, nuclear reaction) but it can also refer to electromagnetic radiation (i.e radio waves, infrared light, visible light and x-rays). This can also be lionizing radiation to acoustic radiation because energy radiate i.e travels out wardly froth a source called an emitter in straight lines in all directions (Agba, 2016).

Natural Background radiation accounts for 80% of radiation source in our environment which includes cosmic radiation from the sun and outer space and consists of positives charged particles, form radioactive material found on earth surface as in rocks and soil as well as radiation in our bodies in form of element liker potassium 40. The first two sourcesmentioned as referred to as external sources of natural background radiation while the last is called the internal source of natural background radiation. The other 20% comes from the artificial background source like the nuclear power plants, nuclear weapon testing and medical procedures (x-rays and mammography) in medicine and dentistry (ICRP, 2020).

Radiation is classified in to forms based on energy level; the lionization form of radiation which is the high energy radiation capable of lionizing atoms. It includes Alpha Particles bête particles, gamma rays and neutrons. And the non-lionization form of radiation which is a low frequency and energy radiation. It includes ultraviolet rays, visible light microwaves, and radio waves.

Over the years the level of background radiation in our surrounding has grown significantly. A study conducted by Japan’s institute of radiological studies in 1977 shows that the increase in radiation level was due to nuclear power plant production. Other factors regarded as major contributors include nuclear reactor explosion mining activities, industrialwaste and effluent from factories (IAEA 2016) estimate of dose contribution in the environment shows that 85% of radiation dosereceived by man are derived from natural radionuclide while the remaining 15% comes from cosmic rays and nuclear process.

In the year 2000, the average, the average background radiation for human being amounts to about 2.4 micro sievert per year (iSv/yr) and about 5tSv/yr comes from nuclear activities (UNCSCEAR, 2000). At sea level, the average cosmic radiation dose is about 26 mRern per year. At high elevation, the amount of atmosphere shielding cosmic rays decreases and thus the dose increases. Radioactive elements like uranium, thorium and atom which are the terrestrial emitting radio nuclides are also regarded as contributors to high level of background radiation (Ellwell, 2018). Radonfor instance is a current health concern – radon gas formed from radioactive decay of natural uranium in the soil. It emits alpha radiation, raises form soil under houses and can build up in homes particularly well insulted homes.

Exposure to radiation can cause severe damage to human biological system (Emeka, 2017). Although a dose of 25 Rerns which is equivalent to 0.25mSv causes some detectable changes in blood, doses to near 100 Rems usually have no immediate effect. Dose above 100 Rerns causes the first signs of nausea, vomiting, headache, some lost of white blood cells. Dose of 300 Rems on more cause temporary hair loss but also more significantly internal harm including damage to nerve cells and cells that line up the digestive tract (Agba, 2016). Severe loss of white blood cells which are the body defense system makes a radiation victim vulnerable to diseases. Radiation also reduces the blood platelets which aid bloodclotting, so victims of radiation are vulnerable to hemorrhaging. Half of the people exposed to 450 Rems die and dose of 800 Rems are fatal. The main way of saving the cells of the body is to protect it from expcsure to radiation. This is why radiation monitoring and measurement are quite essential in our society today (Hay, 2016).

It cannot be denied that wireless internet routers figure among the devices which emit electromagnetic radiation in order to send signals to computers. However, one school of thought affirm that radiation exposure within a free wireless internet access environment is. so low that it should not be cause for any concern it points out that there is radiation from various natural sources all around such as the sun, while the other school of thought responds that the hammering effects on the body of radiation generated by man’s action are not the same as naturally. occurring radiation. Therefore there is the need to took into the argument to verify the very effect of background radiation in internet cafes and business centers which are the artificial or man-made sources. Most countries of the world including the developed and the developing nations are indifferent, unconscious or ignorant of the potential effect of NIR when subjected to long exposure

1.2       Statement of the Problem

According to Agba et al., (2020), every person is exposed daily to variety of radiation whether he recognize it or not. This is due to the various activities in our immediate surroundings.In fact, the context of background radiation over the years has passed in silence especially in developing countries like ours Nigeria. if it is mentioned at all, it is mostly the theoretical possibilities that are highlighted and negligence in the study especially on it effect to man in his surrounding will continue to leave a threat to human existence. The study finds solution to question like; the various factors that lead to the variation in background radiation of different indoor surrounding of the gas filling station Port-Harcourt in  the hazards of man’s continual exposure to radiation through different radiation emitting source and the possible protection and control measures to its exposure.

1.3       Aim and Objective

1.3.1 Aim

The aim of this research is to measure the background ionization radiation for some gas filling station in Port-Harcourt.

1.3.2    Objectives

In view of the problem defined above, the general objective of the study includes:

1. To evaluate the amount of radiation present in gas filling station in Port-Harcourt
2. To review the effects of long exposure to radiation
3. To create awareness of the possible danger posed by long exposure to non lionizing radiation sources.

1.4       Justification

The limit of radiation exposure for non radiation workers is 1millisievert/yr while that for radiation workers is 20 millisievert average 5yrs according to the international commission on radiological protection (ICRP). As such there is a need to know the amount of background radiation exposure in the internet cafes from which the annual exposure in the cafes can be calculated and compared with international limit started by the ICRP. More so, the recent studies have shown that “Pittsburgh cancer warns of risk from cell phone use” Geoffrey lean in the article “Germany warns citizens to avoid using Wi-Fi’ et al are pointing to more and evidence of diseases being caused by radiation from laptops, cell phones and other similar devices. Hence, there is the need to frequently and increasingly notify the public about the threat posed by radiation to health in general – also information derived from the study will therefore.

1. Provide database for information regarding management of background radiation in gas filling station.
2. Create more awareness on the danger posed by background radiation.
3. Serve as reference for further or subsequent research

1.5       Significance of the Study

The infinite need for use of Internet Cafes or wireless internet service also calls for or demand softly of the people receiving the services. However, it has bçen observed that awareness on safety or steps on how to minimize the risk of exposure to background radiation by devices concerned is drastically neglected.

Like every other business enterprise, most wireless internet cafes have its aim to rnaximize profit at the detriment of their customers. As a result, a conscious effort needs to be made by measuring the amount of background radiation in the Cafes so as to create more awareness from the result of the study.

1.6       Scope and Limitation of the Study

The study focuses on the measurement of the background ionization radiation for some gas filling station in Port-Harcourtrelative to the standard amount of absorbable radiation in order to determine the effect of background radiation to the general public. It is however limited due to the following challenges:

1. Insufficient finance to carry out the research work
2. Limited time
3. Poor cooperation by Internet Cafes owners

1.8       Definition of Terms

1. Annual Limit Intake (ALT): the limit of radiation absorbed close for a human body as set by ICRP
2. Cancer: A human disease which is characterized by the abnormal growth of body cells.
3. Cosmic Radiation: subatomic particle from the sum and outer space that, can travel nearly to the speed of high.
4. Dose Rate: the rate of lionized radiation absorbed by a human being;
5. Exposure Rate: the rate at which human being are exposed to radiation dose or radioactive materials.
6. ICRP: Acronym for international commission on radiological protection an international non- governmental scientific organization responsible for making recommendation and providing guidance on fundamental principles of radiation protection.
7. Indoor Radiation: Background radiation present within a building or structure.
8. Radiation pose: The amount of radiation in a body or environment
9. Radioactive Isotopes: One of two, or more species of atom having the same atomic number that emits radiation or energy in form of streams of particle
10. Radioactive Materials: substances on earth surface that emits radiation
    
11.  Rem: Acronym for Roentgen Equivalent in man, formerly a unit of radiation dose rate used for human body lrem = 0.0lSv.
12. Sievert: the Ai Unit measuring the probability that a specific dose of a particular radiation type will cause biological effect. 1 sievert is equal to 1 joule per kilogram. And 100 rem.
13. Uranium: chemically reactive radioactive metallic element that is the main fuel used in nuclear reactors and a radiation emitting source in rocks s and soil.
14. X -Rays: Electromagnetic radiation which is produced when atomic electrons undergo a charge in orbit.