Activity concentrations of the Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORMs) in some bottled drinking water brands obtained from some supermarkets in Accra were analyzed using gamma spectrometry. 40 K activity concentrations were in the range of 3.57-5.47 Bq/L, the highest occurring in brand L9. Similarly, 232 Th activity concentrations were in the range of 0.30-0.56 Bq/L with the highest occurring in brand L8. 226 Ra was identified in eleven brands with the remaining 5 below detection limit. The highest value (0.53 Bq/L) occurred in brand L9. Comparison of the mean concentrations showed significant differences at (α = 0.05) between the various brands of bottled water. Estimated committed effective doses were generally below 0.1 mSv/a for all age groups with the exception of children <1yr. Estimated lifetime cancer and hereditary risk were done using the ICRP risk assessment methodology. Water is a basic necessity for biological survival and continuity, hence the need for it to be accessible, adequate and safe. In sub-Saharan Africa, the population relying on improved water sources has increased from 49% to 63%
This study attempted to quantify the irradiance levels of ultraviolet A (UV-A) and ultraviolet C (UV-C) from the shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) process to welders in Accra, Ghana. Exposures were assessed via measurements, observations, and interviews. The assessments were done based on safe exposure levels prescribed by recognized international organizations such as the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Results from the measured UV-C irradiance levels E UV-C ranged between 0.16 ± 0.08 W/m 2 and 10.46 ± 1.96 W/m 2 with its corresponding permissible exposure duration t max-UV-C per day ranging from 5.74 s to 367.35 s. The measured UV-A irradiance levels E UV-A ranged from 0.88 ± 0.03 W/m 2 to 23.72 ± 6.66 W/m 2 with its corresponding permissible exposure duration t max-UV-A per day ranging from 421.59 s to 11,363.64 s. The obtained effective irradiance E eff has a range of 2.08 W/m 2 to 28.79 W/m 2 with the range of permissible exposure duration t max per day of 1.04 s to 14.40 s. It was found that the total exposure time of the welders exceeded the permissible exposure durations and that the safety practices among the welders were unsatisfactory.
The Electric and Magnetic fields for workers in a data centre in the Greater Accra Region was assessed. The fundamental objective was to determine the levels of the electric and magnetic fields and to assess the extent of exposure of workers in the data centre to these fields. The results for the electric field intensities in the data centre ranged from 6.03E-03 ± 7.54E-04 kVm-1 to 2.33E-04 ± 8.82E-05 kVm-1. The results obtained for the magnetic flux density ranged from 3.9E-07 ± 8.77E-03 µT to 7.27E-08 ± 7.31E-03 µT. The results obtained for the induced current density ranged from 2.37E-06 ± 1.50E-02 mA/m 2 to 2.46E-07 ± 9.99E-03 mA/m 2. Data obtained were below the basic restrictions for induced current density and reference levels for electric field and magnetic flux density set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection.
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