Evaluation of Radioactivity Levels in Soil Samples from Assosa City in Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia

ORAL

Abstract

The specific activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides in soil samples collected from suburban areas of Assosa City was measured using an HPGe detector. The average specific activity concentrations of 238U and 232Th exceed the recommended safe value of 35.0 and 30.0 Bq kg-1, respectively. For 40K, the average activity concentration is below the recommended safe value of 400.0 Bq kg-1. The calculated mean value of the absorbed dose rate is 72.8 ± 3.72 nGy h-1 which exceed the recommended safe value of 59 nGy h-1. The calculated mean annual effective dose equivalent values for indoor and outdoor are 2.11 ± 0.1 mSv y-1 and 0.52 ± 0.02 mSv y-1, respectively. The calculated mean values of the internal hazard index, external hazard index, and gamma index are 0.43 ± 0.013, 0.56 ± 0.01, and 0.5 ± 0.01, respectively, and those values are below the recommended safe value of one. The mean value of excessive lifetime cancer risk is above the threshold value of 0.29 × 10-3. From this study, it is recommended that Assosa soil needs further investigations.

KEYWORDS: Assosa, detector, radionuclide, health, gamma-ray, soil

*I would like to thank Assosa University and Addis Ababa University for the financial support.

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Publication: 1. Yared Birhane Kidane, Tilahun Tesfaye Deressu, and Guadie Degu Belete. Evaluation of Radioactivity levels in Soil Samples from Assosa City in Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia. Environmental Forensic, 26:122-133, Mar, 2024. doi.org/10.1080/15275922.2024.2330025

2. Yared B. K., Tilahun T. D., and Guadie D. B. Evaluation of Radioactivity Level in Surface Soil from Bambasi District in Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia. Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/6633673

3. Yared B. K. and Tilahun T. D. Determination of Radiological Doses in Medicinal Plants from the Assosa Zone, Ethiopia, International Journal of Low Radiation. October, 2025

4. One of the research article is in final stage of re-review process with results of "accepted with minor correction", in Arabian Journal of Geoscience, Springer title "Assessment of Radioactivity Concentrations in Soil Samples from Menge and Sherkole Districts in Benishangul Gumuz region, Ethiopia".

5. I have prepared well studied research article which will be submitted soon in Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Elsevier.

6. I presented my research at First International Conference in Earth Science and Energy transition, the extended abstract is expected to publish in conference proceeding books series of "Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation".

Presenters

  • Yared Birhane Kidane

    • Assosa University

Authors

  • Yared Birhane Kidane

    • Assosa University