The mean gross alpha and beta activities in surface soil and drinkable water in the surrounding communities of a steel processing company, following a continuous exposure of workers and dwellers is determined using a low background Gas-less counting system with a solid state silicon PIPS detector for alpha and beta detection. The average activities for gross alpha and beta in soil ranged between 48.5 ± 15.8e64.0 ± 10.0Bq/kg and 411.5 ± 11.5e2710.0 ± 150.0Bq/kg respectively, whereas in water it ranged between 0.0064 ± 0.0001e0.0182 ± 0.0001 Bq/l and 0.046 ± 0.001e0.126 ± 0.001 Bq/l respectively. The average annual committed effective dose from intake of water was between 0.0304 mSv and 0.0678 mSv which is lower than the recommended reference level for ingested dose from drinkable water.

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A dosimetric survey has been carried out in order to investigate typical radiation doses for children undergoing a number of common x-ray examinations in Nigeria. The results presented in this work are derived from the data of 226 children from three different hospitals included in the survey. Assuming the sample is representative of national practice patterns, pediatric chest examinations are the most frequent radiological examinations. Doses were measured by attaching thermoluminescent dosimeters to the patient's skin to determine entrance surface dose (ESD). The mean and standard deviation of the individual ESD values are reported. Comparisons were made between these doses and diagnostic reference levels, and also between the doses and those from other countries. The mean ESD values in the present work are found to be generally higher than those found in an UNSCEAR document and the NRPB diagnostic reference levels. The ratio of maximum ESD to minimum ESD, a parameter that characterizes ESD variation, was found to be less than 10 in each of the hospitals, while across the three hospitals the ratio was found to be greater than 10. The reasons for the high mean ESD and the variations in patients' ESD values have been discussed in terms of regulatory control, personnel, difference in radiological techniques, performance of x-ray facility, film processing condition, and the type of film-screen combination used. The results presented in this work will form part of the baseline data needed for deriving national guidance levels of pediatric radiological examination. In addition, it will also serve as a source of additional information on pediatric patient dosimetry. Suggestions are given on how to reduce doses to pediatric patients during x-ray examinations, especially in developing countries.

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Thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLDs) have been used to measure the entrance surface doses (ESDs) of patients undergoing pelvis, abdomen and lumbar spine diagnostic X-ray examinations in Nigeria. A total of three public hospitals and 171 patients were included in this investigation. The ages of the patients involved were from 40 years to 85 years, while their weights ranged from 64 kg to 73 kg. Mean, median, first and third quartiles of ESDs are reported. The results showed that in most cases, for each of the examinations, the individual ESD values are found to be comparable with, and higher than, those from Ghana and Tanzania, respectively. The mean ESD values are also found to be within the range of mean ESD values that have been previously been reported from countries outside Africa. When compared with the European Community (EC) reference values, the mean ESDs were found to be below the reference values in only two of the hospitals. The ranges found in this work are high and this indicates more attention needs to be given to X-ray facilities in the country. This also suggests that radiographic departments need to review their radiographic practices in order to bring their doses to optimum levels. Effective doses were also calculated from the ESD values. The mean effective doses were found to be generally low when compared with those found in the literature from other countries including two African countries. The radiographic parameters used for all the patients were also compared with the European criteria. It is recommended that the tube filtration at one hospital be increased. The importance of good regulatory activities and trained personnel is stressed in this work. Apart from the fact that the data provided in this work will be useful for the formulation of national guidance levels, they also provide patient dosimetry information on healthcare level IV countries.