EVALUATION OF BACKGROUND IONIZING RADIATION LEVELS IN HEALTH CARE WASTE IN SELECTED HEALTH CARE DUMPSITES IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

This paper reports on the evaluation of background Ionization radiation level in some selected health care dumpsites in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Background ionization radiation measurements were carried out in ten dumpsites in three hospitals. An in- situ measurement was done using a well factory calibrated radiation meter the (Radex) and a geographical positioning system. Readings were taken in ten different locations within each of the dumpsites. The mean background Ionization radiation values in the ten dumpsites ranges from 0.089±0.005 µSv/hr to 0.109 ± 0.003 µSv/h. All the background ionization radiation levels obtained values exceeded the normal world average BIR level of 0.013 µSv/h. The mean effective dose values range from 0.109 mSv/y to 0.134 mSv/y showing that all the dumpsites yearly effective dose were below the 1.0mSv/y maximum permissible limit recommended for the public and non-nuclear industrial environment by International Council on Radiological Protection. This research work indicated that the dumpsites environment may have contributed to an elevated radiation level which will pose some long-term health side effects on the workers and residents. Consequently regulatory actions are recommended.