Measurement Of Background Radiation

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study
Radiation is a phenomenon that has existed way back before the world’s development and advancement in technology and has continued to evolve with mankind. This Phenomenon is generally defined as the transfer of energy in form of waves or sub-atomic particles (Garg, 2016). In our daily activities, we are exposed to a range of naturally occurring radiation either from cosmic rays, from radioactive substances (such as electronic devices or fruits), or from naturally occurring radiation in our bodies.
Some naturally occurring radioactive materials in the earth are Radium, Radon, Thorium, Uranium and Potassium, some of which exist in our blood and bones. Man-made radiation also exists through medical applications, consumer goods, and the operation of the nuclear power industry. Man-made radiation is also used in the treatment of Cancer and other diseases. (Milan et al, 2015)
Radiation is not entirely harmful as some kinds of radiation (such as Light, Radio, and Microwave) are very important parts of human life and living. For the purpose of this research work, a lot of focus will be placed on the harmful radiation known as Nuclear Background Radiation.
The modern understanding of ionizing radiation got its start in 1895 with Wilhelm Roentgen. In the process of conducting various experiments in applying currents to different vacuum tubes, he discovered that, despite covering one tube in a screen to block light, there seemed to be rays penetrating through to react with a barium solution on a screen he had placed nearby. After several experiments, including taking the first photo (of his wife’s hand and skeletal structure) with the new rays, he named them “X-Rays” temporarily as a designation of something unknown, and the name stuck.
This discovery was followed in 1896 by Henri Becquerel’s discovery that uranium salts gave off similar rays naturally. Though originally thinking that the rays were given off by phosphorescent uranium salts after prolonged exposure to the sun, he eventually abandoned this hypothesis. Through further experimentation including non-phosphorescent uranium, he instead came to recognize that it was the material itself that gave off the rays.
Although it was Henri Becquerel that discovered the phenomenon, it was his doctoral student, Marie Curie, who named it: radioactivity. She would go on to do much more pioneering work with radioactive materials, including the discovery of additional radioactive elements: thorium, polonium, and radium. She was awarded the Nobel Prize twice, once alongside Henri Becquerel and her husband Pierre in Physics for their work with radioactivity, and again years later in Chemistry for her discovery of radium and polonium. She also conducted pioneering work in radiology, developing and deploying mobile X-ray machines for the battlefields of World War I.
She died in 1934 of aplastic anaemia, probably developed from extended exposure to various radioactive materials, the dangers of which were only really understood long after most of her exposure had occurred. In fact, her papers (and even her cookbook) are still highly radioactive and many are considered unsafe to handle, stored in shielded boxes and requiring protective equipment to safely review.

1.2 Aim of Study
The aim of this study is to measure the natural background radiation level that arises as a result of the gold mine in Iperindo area of Osun State.

1.3 Objectives of Study
The specific objectives are:
I. to obtain data for absorbed dose rate by taking readings measured in Counts per minute at specific locations in Iperindo town.
II. to compute the mean outdoor effective dose equivalent and compare it with the dose limit stipulated by International Standards.
III. to use the obtained data from the mean outdoor effective dose to determine the health effect on the people residing in Iperindo town as a result of exposure to background nuclear radiation from the surrounding Gold mine.

1.4 Justification of Study
This project research is enhanced and motivated, for the purpose of creating awareness, thereby improving and even saving the lives of people, in Iperindo Town (On a small scale) and Nigeria as a whole.
Over the years, Radiation has evolved with man and technology. This evolution has seemed helpful in many areas and in several cases, dangerous. The occurrence of radiation presented as a biological risk has demonstrated the need to assess the potential risk associated with living close to a goldmine site.