Assessment of background ionizing radiation and associated risks in the coastal oil exploration region of Southern Nigeria

The Niger delta region of Nigeria is experiencing extensive environmental deterioration, primarily as a result of indiscriminate waste and oil and gas development activities. Hence, monitoring the background ionizing radiation (BIR) levels as a result and their related radiological hazards is essential. Using a precisely calibrated Digilert 100 and 200 nuclear radiations monitor and a GPS, the study of ionizing radiation levels in the coastal oil exploration region in the Southern part of Nigeria was conducted. The mean radiation levels recorded were 0.01 mR/h (1.11 mSv/yr) for the Abigborodo community (the lowest), and 0.02 mR/hr (1.30 mSv/yr) for the Tisum community (the highest), resulting in an overall average of 0.02 mR/hr (1.22 mSv/yr). The average radiation levels measured in the examined oil exploration and production areas or communities were consistently higher than the globally accepted averages of 0.013 mR/hr and 1.0 mSv/yr, respectively. The computed annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), mean absorbed dose rate, and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) are 0.19 mSv/y, 126.50 nGy/h, and 0.68 × 10 −3 respectively. The organs with the highest calculated dose were the testes, while the organs with the lowest dose were the liver. The associated radiological hazards are all less than the recommended limits of 1.0 mSv/year. The measured distributions support the reliability of the empirical dataset. Although the radiation levels are within safety limits, cumulative exposure may present long-term health risks, emphasizing the need for continuous radiological monitoring and effective waste management.