Volume 10, Issue 2, February – 2025 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14945030

Estimation of Annual Effective Dose

Equivalent and Excess Life Cancer Risk
Across Major Markets in Northern Cross
River State Nigeria
Godwin O. Igomah1; Williams E. Azogor1; Isaac B. Ekong1;
Ekpobasahan E. Agustina2; Sunday I. Ogar1; Victor J. Ogbaji1;
Jonathan U. Abeh1; Stephen E. Ekwok3
1
Department of Physics, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
2
Department of Radiography, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
3
Applied Geophysics Unit, University of Calabar, Calabar.

Publication Date: 2025/03/01

Abstract: Human exposure to ionizing radiation from natural and artificial sources is an unpreventable phenomenon on
Earth. Radiation profile and dose rate for some markets in northern Cross River State, Nigeria have been ascertained using
a 451p ion chamber survey meter, and the following parameters of radiation were calculated, absorb dose, annual effective
dose equivalent, and excess life cancer risk. The dose rates measured within five major markets are as follows; Obanliku,
0.07𝝁sv/h to 0.18𝝁sv/h, Obudu, 0.03𝝁sv/h to 0.17𝝁sv/h, Bekwara, 0.06𝝁sv/h to 0.78𝝁sv/h Ogoja, market 0.05𝝁sv/h to
0.15𝝁sv/h, Okuku, 0.06 𝝁sv/h to 0.25 𝝁sv/h, The mean value for the dose rate was 0.122 ± 0.031 for Obanliku, 0.120 ± 0.031
for Obudu, 0.164 ± 0.159 for Bekwara, 0.097 ± 0.030 for Ogoja, 0.117 ± 0.043 𝝁sv/h for okuku, Mean values of 0.194 ±
0.072msvy-1, 0.184 ± 0.045msv/y, 0.250 ± 0.244msv/y, 0.147 ± 0.047msv/y, and 0.179 ± 0.067msv/y, for AEDE were observed
respectively for Obanliku, obudu, bekwara, ogoja, and okuku within the markets. Similarly, 0.622 ± 0.238 x 10-3, 0.643 ±
0.158 x 10-3, 0.876 ± 0.853 x 10-3, 0.514 ± 0.167 x 10-3,and 0.628 ± 0.233 x 10-3, were recorded for ELCR, within the markets.
The AEDE values are within the permissible limit as recommended by the international bodies, the ELCR values are also
within the permissible limit. The AEDE & ELCR values imply that the market sides are radiation safe for any radiological
health burdens that might arise due to absorbing doses from background ionizing radiation, but the probability of occupants
developing cancer over a lifetime exposure in marketplaces is high. It is recommended that periodic background ionizing
radiation monitoring and evaluation, and radioactive concentration of nuclides in soil and rocks of the are been carried out
by local authority.

Keyword: Gamma Radiation, Dose Rate, Markets, Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR), Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE).

How to Cite: Godwin O. Igomah; Williams E. Azogor; Isaac B. Ekong; Ekpobasahan E. Agustina; Sunday I. Ogar; Victor J. Ogbaji;
Jonathan U. Abeh; Stephen E. Ekwok (2025). Estimation of Annual Effective Dose Equivalent and Excess Life
Cancer Risk Across Major Markets in Northern Cross River State Nigeria. International
Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 10(2), 1076-1084.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14945030

I. INTRODUCTION dose of any person comes from natural radionuclides of both

terrestrial and cosmogenic origin (Belivermis et al. 2010;
It is imperative that the level of background gamma UNSCEAR 2000). The worldwide annual effective dose from
radiation levels is monitored and checked to avoid public natural sources is estimated to be 2.4mSv (UNSCEAR 2000).
exposure. (mojisola et al, 2023) everywhere in the world man
generally is expose to background gamma radiation, and the The earth crust contains various radioactive isotopes
radiation can come from different sources. Background such as uranium, thorium, radon, tritium, carbon and
radiation is that which is naturally and inevitably present in potassium among others. These isotopes and their decay
our environment. Human beings are exposed to background products have differences in their half- life, which emits
radiation that stems both from natural and man-made sources. various types of radiation such as alpha, beta, and gamma rays
In general, approximately 85% of the annual total radiation additionally, cosmic radiation from the sun, contributes to

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Volume 10, Issue 2, February – 2025 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14945030
gamma rays surrounding the human body. Conversely, the III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
controlled man-made artificial background radiations result
from several sources such as fall out of weapon testing,  Radiological Parameters.
radioactive waste, and the use of radioisotopes in radio-
therapy. Both controlled and uncontrolled sources of  Absorbed Dose Rate (ADE)
radiation may have undesired biological effect of living
species (orwa et al 2012). Small traces of many naturally  Absorbed Dose Rate
occurring radioactive materials are present in the human The absorbed dose rate is calculated from the exposure
body. These comes mainly from naturally occurring rate using the conversion factor
radioactive nuclides present in the food we eat and in the air
we breathe. And this isotope includes tritium (3H), carbon-14 1𝜇Sv/h=1000nGy/h……………………………………….(1)
(14C), and potassium-40 (40K) (oyeyinka et al 2012).
 Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE)
II. MATERIALS AND METHOD To compute the annual effective dose equivalent
(AEDE) absorbed by the people or workers around the study
 Study Area area, the already estimated absorbed dose rate was used. in
This research work was carried out in a Cross River calculating AEDE, a dose conversion factor for the outdoors
State, in the south-south geopolitical zone of Nigeria, with of 0.25 (6 hours out of 24 hours) was used. the occupancy
the coordinates 5 045, N, and 80 30E. Cross River State is made factor for the outdoors was determined based on interaction
up of three senatorial districts. northern cross river, southern with people. In the market (traders) it was discovered that
cross river, and Central Senatorial District. Observations they spend approximately 6 hours in the course of their daily
were made in the northern senatorial district which comprises activities within the study environment. The annual effective
five local government areas, with five major markets across dose was calculated using the following relation.
the senatorial district.

 Field Measurement
In-situ measurement of the background gamma
radiation level was done by making use of a portable well-  Excess Life Cancer Risk (ELCR)
calibrated 451p ion chamber survey meter capable of The possibility of contacting cancer by the traders,
detecting beta, gamma, and x-ray particles with a high buyers, sellers, and residents of the study area throughout
sensitivity µSv/hr measurement of rate and dose their lifetime in this environment can be approximately
simultaneously from various radiation sources. Readings obtained using the excess lifetime cancer Risk (ELCR). The
were taken within the hours of 11 am and 4 pm hours. The estimation is given as;
survey meter was used to measure the dose rate of gamma
radiation in µSv/hr within the five markets and a total of 20
sampling points were taken from each market. Measurement
was done 1m above the ground level, three measurements for Where AEDE, DL, and RF are the annual effective dose
each point were taken and then averages were calculated for equivalent, duration of life (70 yrs) and risk factor (SV-1) fatal
each point. cancer risk per Sievert are considered to produce stochastic
effects. ICRP 60 uses values of 0.05 for the public.

 Results
The in-situ measurement of radiation dose rating of five
major markets in Cross River North Nigeria is represented in
Tables 1 to 5.
Table 1 Radiation Dose Rate Measured in Ogoja Market
Location Dose rate Absorbed Dose Rate AEDE ELCR
µSv/h (nGyh-1) (msvy-1) X 10-3
I1 0.073 73 0.11 0.39
I2 0.073 73 0.11 0.39
I3 0.05 50 0.07 0.25
I4 0.087 87 0.13 0.46
I5 0.093 93 0.14 0.49
I6 0.053 53 0.08 0.23
I7 0.113 113 0.17 0.59
I8 0.063 63 0.10 0.35
I9 0.077 77 0.12 0.42
I10 0.107 107 0.16 0.56
I11 0.106 106 0.16 0.56
I12 0.133 133 0.20 0.70

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Volume 10, Issue 2, February – 2025 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14945030
I13 0.143 143 0.22 0.77
I14 0.08 80 0.12 0.42
I15 0.143 143 0.22 0.77
I16 0.13 130 0.19 0.67
I17 0.09 90 0.14 0.49
I18 0.15 150 0.23 0.81
I19 0.08 80.00 0.12 0.42
I20 0.097 97 0.15 0.53
Mean ±SD 0.122±0.031 121.500.±30.483 0.1940±0.072 0.622±0.238

Table 2 Radiation Dose Rate Measured in Obudu Market

Location Dose rate Absorbed Dose Rate AEDE ELCR
µSv/h (nGyh-1) (msvy-1) X 10-3
O1 0.03 30 0.05 0.18
O2 0.11 110 0.17 0.59
O3 0.09 90 0.14 0.49
O4 0.12 120 0.18 0.63
O5 0.13 130 0.20 0.70
O6 0.17 170 0.26 0.91
O7 0.14 140 0.21 0.74
O8 0.09 90 0.14 0.49
O9 0.17 170 0.26 0.91
O10 0.12 120 0.18 0.64
O11 0.14 140 0.21 0.74
O12 0.11 110 0.17 0.59
O13 0.14 140 0.21 0.74
O14 0.14 140 0.21 0.74
O15 0.12 120 0.18 0.63
O16 0.10 110 0.17 0.59
O17 0.13 130 0.199 0.69
O18 0.10 100 0.15 0.53
O19 0.13 130 0.20 0.70
O20 0.12 120 0.18 0.63
Mean ±SD 0.120±0.031 120.500.±30.345 0.184±0.045 0.643±0.158

Table 3 Radiation Dose Rate in Bekwara Markets

Location Dose rate Absorbed Dose AEDE ELCR
µSv/h Rate (nGyh-1) (msvy-1) X 10-3
B1 0.14 140 0.21 0.74
B2 0.78 780 1.19 4.17
B3 0.12 120 0.18 0.63
B4 0.097 97 0.14 0.49
B5 0.143 140 0.21 0.74
B6 0.12 120 0.18 0.63
B7 0.17 170 0.26 0.91
B8 0.1 100 0.15 0.53
B9 0.167 167 0.26 0.91
B10 0.097 97 0.15 0.53
B11 0.08 80 0.12 0.42
B12 0.32 320 0.49 1.72
B13 0.06 60 0.09 0.32
B14 0.103 103 0.16 0.56
B15 0.06 60 0.09 0.32
B16 0.06 60 0.09 0.32
B17 0.14 137.00 0.21 0.74
B18 0.08 80 0.12 0.42
B19 0.2 200 0.31 1.09
B20 0.25 250 0.38 1.33
Mean ±SD 0.164±0.159 164.050±159.215 0.250±0.244 0.876±0.853

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Volume 10, Issue 2, February – 2025 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
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Table 4 Radiation Dose Rate Measured in Okuku Market
Location Dose rate Absorbed Dose Rate AEDE ELCR
µSv/h (nGyh-1) (msvy-1) X 10-3
O1 0.13 130 0.20 0.70
O2 0.1 100 0.15 0.53
O3 0.09 90 0.14 0.49
O4 0.08 80 0.12 0.42
O5 0.13 130 0.20 0.70
O6 0.20 200 0.31 1.09
O7 0.11 110 0.17 0.59
O8 0.11 110 0.17 0.59
O9 0.12 120 0.18 0.63
O10 0.09 90 0.14 0.49
O11 0.06 60 0.09 0.32
O12 0.10 100 0.15 0.53
O13 0.11 110 0.17 0.59
O14 0.25 250 0.38 1.33
O15 0.1 100 0.15 0.53
O16 0.13 130 0.20 0.70
O17 0.10 100 0.15 0.53
O18 0.11 110 0.17 0.59
O19 0.07 70 0.11 0.39
O20 0.15 150 0.23 0.81
Mean ±SD 0.097±0.030 97.050±30.313 0.147±0.047 0.514±0.167

Table 5 Radiation Dose Rate Measured within Obanliku Market

Location Dose rate Absorbed Dose Rate AEDE ELCR
µSv/h (nGyh-1) (msvy-1) X 10-3
R1 0.13 130 0.20 0.70
R2 0.08 80 0.37 0.12
R3 0.10 100 0.15 0.53
R4 0.16 160 0.25 0.88
R5 0.11 110 0.17 0.59
R6 0.13 130 0.19 0.67
R7 0.10 100 0.15 0.53
R8 0.14 140 0.21 0.74
R9 0.11 110 0.17 0.59
R10 0.07 70 0.01 0.04
R11 0.16 160 0.25 0.89
R12 0.18 180 0.28 0.98
R13 0.10 100 0.15 0.53
R14 0.11 110 0.17 0.59
R15 0.15 150 0.23 0.81
R16 0.13 130 0.20 0.70
R17 0.16 160 0.25 0.89
R18 0.10 100 0.15 0.53
R19 0.13 130 0.20 0.70
R20 0.08 80 0.12 0.42
Mean ±SD 0.117±0.043 117.00±43.420 0.179±0.067 0.628±0.233

Assessment of radiation profile and dose rate from major  Discussion

markets in northern senatorial district of cross river state, Nigeria has Assessment of radiation profile and dose rate for the five
been carried out using a well calibrated ionization chamber survey major markets across the northern senatorial district of Cross
meter. The mean dose was measured across the five markets which River State has been obtained using a well-calibrated
range from 0.043 ± 0.017µSv/h in bekwara market to 0.110 ± ionization chamber survey meter. The dose rate measured
0.036µ/h in ogoja market. ranges from 0.02µSv/h to 0.30 µSv/h with a mean value of
0.043±0.017 µSv/h to 0.110±0.036 µSv/h which is lower than
the world standard value of 1mSv/y for members of the public
(ICRP, 1991) the location that recorded the highest dose rate,

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Volume 10, Issue 2, February – 2025 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14945030
absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose equivalent, and 0.067±0.029msv/y to 0.223±0.654msv/y. this is far lower
excess life cancer risk is bekwara market, this may be due to than the world standard value of 0.48mSv/y. the excess life
the increase in economic activities, presence of rocks, and the cancer risk measured ranges from 0.39×10-3 to 0.16×10-3.
building material present in the market. With a mean value of 0.259×10-3. To 0.558×10-3. Which is
higher when compared to the world standard value of
The absorbed dose measured ranges from 70Gy/hr to 0.29×10-3.
200Gy/hr with a mean value of 42.500±17.130Gy/hr to
110.0±36.419nGy/hr. the location with the highest value of This ELCR estimated from the annual effective dose in
absorbed dose is also Bekwara market. This value can be some markets like Obudu, and Yala exceeded the world
attributed to the radon gases trapped by building and building weighted average of 0.29×10-3. We can say that there's a
materials in the market. probability of this accumulated dose resulting in cancer for
long-term exposure. This suggests further studies to be
The annual effective dose equivalent measured ranges carried out on soil, water from the area.
from 0.14msv/y to 0.30msv/y with a mean value of

Fig 1 Bar Chart showing Dose Rate in the Northern Senatorial District

Fig 2 Bar Chat Showing Absorbed Dose Rate of Gamma Radiation in Northern Senatorial District

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Fig 3 Bar Chart Showing Annual Effective Dose Equivalents in Northen Senatorial District

Fig 4 Bar Chart Showing Excess Life Cancer Risk in Northen Senatorial District

Fig 5 Bar Chart Showing Absorbed Dose within and Outside the Market in the Northen Senatorial District

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Volume 10, Issue 2, February – 2025 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
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Fig 6 Bar Chart Showing AEDE in and Outside the Market in the Northen Senatorial District

Fig 7 Bar Chart Showing Absorbed Dose in and Outside the Market in the Northen Senatorial District

Fig 8 Bar Chart Showing ELCR in and Outside the Market in the Northen Senatorial District

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Fig 9 Comparison of AEDE with World Standard

Fig 10 Comparison of ELCR with World Standard Average

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