https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06560-1
Regular Article
Assessment of natural radioactivity and radiological risks associated with African spinach from Kwara State, Nigeria
1
Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, Abuja, Nigeria
2
Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq
3
Chemical, Biological and Radiological Safety and Security Division, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq
4
Department of Basic Science, College of Dentistry, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq
5
Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural and Applied Science, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
6
Department of Geology and Mining, Faculty of Natural and Applied Science, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
7
Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural and Applied Science, Nigerian Army University, P.O. Box 1500 Biu, Borno State, Nigeria
8
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Isra University, Amman, Jordan
9
Renewable Energy and Environmental Technology Center, University of Tabuk, 47913, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
10
Department of Physics and Technical Sciences, Western Caspian University, Baku, Azerbaijan
a
taha.yaseen93@uomosul.edu.iq
b
berivan_farooq@uokirkuk.edu.iq
c
rilwan.usman@naub.edu.ng
Received:
13
May
2025
Accepted:
16
June
2025
Published online:
1
July
2025
Natural radioactivity as well as the radiological health implications connected to regular consumption of African spinach, botanically known as Amaranthus hybrids, have been evaluated in the current study from six local government areas in Kwara state, Nigeria. The study adopted NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectrometry to detect the specific activity of 238U, 232Th, and 40K radionuclides, while utilizing mathematical relations to determine the health challenges associated with consumption of these radionuclides. Although, 238U, 232Th concentrations falls within the permissible limitations, the specific activity of 40K was found to be above the global limit, which could be attributed to the used of fertilizer in farm areas as well as the uncontrolled local and illegal mining activities going on in the areas. Even though, the concentration of 40K was found to be high, it was observed in this study that, the radiological risk parameters like radium equivalent activity (Raeq), absorbed dose rate (DR), annual effective dose equivalent, and excess lifetime cancer risk that were evaluated were found to be lower than the global permissible limits, confirming no health implications. 40K have been confirmed as the radionuclide which contributed principally to the radiation exposure based of the statistical evaluations conducted in this research. The distribution of the radionuclides were found to be heterogenous based on the based on the spatial mappings, which could be related to factors like anthropogenic and environmental activities. The study showed that there is no health challenge associated with the consumption of African spinach in these six local government areas, but recommend regular monitoring of mining and agricultural activities in the area to avoid future changes.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
