Vol. 8, Issue 7, Part A (2022)

Abstract
Humans are exposed externally and internally in their environment to natural background radiation from radionuclides such as ⁴⁰K, ^238, U and ²³²Th which emit gamma, alpha, beta and other forms of radiation through their decay processes. These radionuclides are found in the soil, food and the water we consume. Human activities such as the mining of uranium, oil exploration, building materials, coal-fired power station can ignite the Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORMs). The aim was to assess radiation impact in Ashaka cement factory, Gombe state for their potential radiological hazards in order to maintain a safe environment. A prospective cross-sectional survey design was adopted and using a purposive sampling technique, fifteen (15) soil samples were collected using a geographical positioning system (GPS). The activity concentrations of these natural radionuclides were measured due to Gamma radiation by using a High Purity Germanium detector. Samples were analysed at the Radiation Protection Institute of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Kwanbeya District, at Accra, Ghana. Fifteen (15) soil samples were collected from within the Ashaka Cement factory (Zone 1) and environment (Zone 2). Data was analyzed by the use of SPSS Version 22.0 (IBM Corp. Armonk NY, 2011). Descriptive statistics was employed to obtain the Mean and Standard deviation of the radioactivity concentrations. Inferential statistics was carried out to compare the radionuclides and radiological parameters. Statistical significance was considered at p ≤ 0.05. The mean activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in soil samples at Zone 1 are 42.70 Bqkg^-1, 29.00 Bqkg^-1, 375 Bqkg^-1 and Zone 2 is 46.11 Bqkg^-1, 35.00 Bqkg^-1, 780.30 Bqkg^-1respectively. Radiation hazard indices at Zone 1 and 2 shows the mean for External Hazard index, Internal Hazard index, Gamma Index, External Absorbed Dose Rate, Annual Effective Does Rate, External Annual Effective Does Rate, Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk and Annual Gonadal Effective Dose is 0.31, 0.42, 0.83, 38.80nGyh^-1, 0.32x10^-3, 0.048mSvyr^-1, 0.17mSvyr^-1, 371mSvyr^-1 and 0.42, 0.55, 1.18, 45.70nGyhr^-1, 0.46mSvyr^-1, 0.056mSvyr^-1, 0.20x10^-3, 533.80mSvyr_-1 respectively. This implies that both staffs and members of the public in the factory might be at risk due to cumulative effect of radiation exposure high activity concentration from 238U and Annual Gonal effective dose exceeding the world average limits.