Evaluation of gross alpha and gross beta activity levels in soil and sediment samples from different oil spill areas in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The evaluation of gross alpha and gross beta activity levels in soil and sediment samples for different oil spill areas in Bayelsa State, Nigeria have been done with the aid of Protean Instrument Corporation (PIC) MPC 2000DP detector. The result of gross alpha and beta activity concentrations obtained for soil samples in oil spill sites of Bayelsa State ranged between 22.00±1.78 Bq/kg (Otuasega) - 39.40±1.88 Bq/kg (Imiringi) and 37.86±2.72 Bq/kg (Otuasega) - 102.57±3.43 Bq/kg (Imiringi). The gross alpha and beta activity concentrations obtained for sediment samples in oil spill sites of Bayelsa State ranged between 20.30±1.54 (Otuasega) - 142.00±1.82 Bq/kg (Ibelebiri) and 30.60±3.23 (Otuasega) - 83.10±3.93 Bq/kg (Ibelebiri) in oil spill sites. The average activity concentrations of gross alpha and beta in soil and sediment samples were compared with other research works. Correlations were made among the variables (gross alpha and gross beta) to prove the interdependency or direct relationship in the investigated samples. The results of the gross alpha and gross beta activities in both soil and sediment samples were found to be greater than the gross alpha and beta activity for their control samples which indicates some degree of perturbation in the oil spilled sites. Comparisons were made between the average activity concentrations of gross alpha and beta in soil and sediment samples and previous research publications. The interdependency or direct relationship in the analyzed samples were done and correlations were computed between the variables (Gross alpha and gross beta). It was discovered that the results of the gross alpha and gross beta activities in both soil and sediment samples were higher than the gross alpha and beta activity for their control samples, which suggests some degree of disruption in the oil spilled sites.