A study to assess the outdoor Background Ionizing Radiation (BIR) levels in Emene Industrial Layout of Enugu State, Nigeria has been conducted. An in-situ measurement of BIR exposure rate in mRh -1 for 30 locations was done using a well calibrated portable GQ GMC-320 PLUS nuclear radiation detector at an elevation of 1.0 m above ground level with a geographical positioning system (GPS) for geographical location. The measured BIR exposure rates were used to evaluate the radiological health hazards and radiation effective doses to different body organs using well established radiological relations. The obtained values were compared with recommended permissible limits to ascertain the radiological health status of the environment. The mean values of BIR exposure levels (0.015±0.001 mRh -1 ), absorbed dose rates (126.15±5.10 ηGyh -1 ) and excess lifetime cancer risk (0.541±0.032×10 -3 ) are higher than their recommended safe limits of 0.013 mRh -1 , 84.0 ηGyh -1 , 0.29×10 -3 respectively as recommended by ICRP and UNSCEAR. The mean annual effective dose equivalent (0.155±0.006 mSvy -1) is within recommended permissible limits of 1.00 mSvy -1 for general public exposure. Also, the effective doses to different body organs are all below the recommended limits of 1.0 mSvy -1 . Generally, the study shows that Emene Industrial Layout is radiologically contaminated due to industrial activities taking place. However, the contamination does not constitute any immediate radiological health effect on resident of the area but there is the potential for long-term health hazards in the future such as cancer due to accumulated doses.

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The perceived implication of increase background radiation levels of farm lands due to inputs of fertilizers and agrochemicals has suggested the need to investigate the background ionization radiation (BIR) levels and associated radiation health parameters in farmlands located in communities of Ishielu LGA of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. An in-situ method of BIR measurement in five farmlands each located in Nkalagu, Ezillo, Okpoto and Nteze communities was carried out using portable GQ GMC-320 Plus radiation meter at an elevation of 1.0 m above ground level with a GPS for geographical location. The BIR levels observed in Nkalagu and Ezillo farmlands are high ranging with same mean values of 0.016±0.002mR/h which is higher than 0.013 mR/h ICRP recommendations for normal environment. The BIR measured at Okpoto and Nteze farmlands are low ranging with mean values of 0.013±0.001 mR/h which is in tandem with ICRP recommendation. The corresponding absorbed doses in all the farmlands and associated excess lifetime cancer risks are far higher than their recommended safe limit of 84.0 ηGy/h and 0.29×10-3 respectively. The values for the annual effective dose for all the farm lands are lower than the permissible limits of 1.00 mSv/yr for the general public. The study shows that the radiation levels and the doses observed in the farmlands do not constitute any immediate negative radiological health effect on the farmers and general public. However, there exists the possibility of cancer development due to accumulated doses as suggested by the excess lifetime cancer risk values.

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