Natural radioactivity in coastaline area soil of Ado-Odo/Ota has been carried out to ascertain the presence of radionuclides using gamma-ray spectroscopy (HPGe detector). The result showed that U-238, Th-232 and K-40 ranged from 24 ± 7–49 ± 10; 67 ± 6–120 ± 9 and 88 ± 17–139 ± 20 Bqkg⁻¹ respectively. The radium equivalent for the samples ranged from 132.51 to 230.91 Bqkg⁻¹ with mean value of 185.89 Bqkg⁻¹. The mean value for the gamma dose rate for the soil samples was estimated to be 81.32 nGyh⁻¹. The estimated values of annual effective dose equivalent ranged from 0.61 to 1.07 mSv y⁻¹. The estimation of alpha index representative (Iα) ranged from 0.12 to 0.24 with mean value of 0.21 while the gamma representative index ranged between 0.465 and 0.810. The activity utilization index of the soil samples ranged from 1.09 to 1.89 with mean value of 1.53. The radiological implication in the study area has shown that the soil samples with gamma dose rate value of 89.99 nGyh⁻¹, 94.39 nGyh⁻¹, 97.40 nGyh⁻¹ and 101.04 nGyh⁻¹ respectively are higher than the recommended value of 80 nGyh⁻¹ and may pose health implication for long term exposure.

In this study, we evaluated the activity concentration of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) for fifteen (15) different brands of tile samples used for building purposes in Nigeria. The tile samples were analyzed using High purity Germanium gamma detector. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were observed to be 61.1 ± 5.5 Bq/kg, 70.2 ± 6.08 Bq/kg and 514.7 ± 59.8 Bq/kg respectively. Various hazard indices such as absorbed dose rate, external and internal hazard index, annual effective dose rate, Gamma activity Index (Iγ) and Alpha Index (Iα) were calculated. The obtained results showed that the mean radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the absorbed dose rate (D), external and internal hazard index, the annual effective dose (AEDR) equivalent, Gamma activity Index (Iγ) and Alpha Index (Iα) were: 204.42 Bq/kg, 177.61 nGyh-1, 0.55, 0.77, 0.96 mSvyr-1, 0.74 and 0.32 respectively. The average value of radium equivalent obtained in this study is less than that of the recommended value of 370 Bq/kg but the average values of the other radiological hazards for some samples are found to be slightly above international recommended values except Hex, Hin and AEDE which are within the international reference value of unity. The measured concentrations of these radioactive materials were correlated with other previous result obtained from similar tile materials used in other countries and found to be in good agreement with the international standard, however, the tiles are recommended for decoration purposes in Nigeria.

Elevated radioactivity levels of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in building materials were measured using gamma-ray spectrometry and their associated lifetime cancer risks were also determined. The mean activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K are 45.72 ± 0.55, 65.90 ± 8.89, and 487.32 ± 15.20 Bq kg⁻¹, respectively. Statistically, the principal component (PC) analysis indicates that higher loadings were recorded in Principal Component One (PC1) with large contribution from ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K. The leverage studies indicate that BN Ceramics (BNC) contributes more to the loadings in PC1 followed by Golden Crown Ceramic (GCC) sample. The mean values of 0.399 mSv y⁻¹ do not surpass the world average value of 0.7 mSv y⁻¹. The mean gamma index from the measured samples is 0.644, whereas a mean value of 0.271 for alpha index is noted in the samples. The activity utilization index (AUI) from the samples satisfied the AUI <2, which corresponded with the annual effective dose of <0.3 mSv y⁻¹, except interlock Site 2 and Gomez Spain tiles. Significantly, the mean value of excess lifetime cancer risk of 0.0014 is slightly lower than the world average value of 0.29 × 10⁻³.

Groundwater is a vital natural resource that plays a significant function in sustainability of living things on earth. Its exploration requires special skill for optimum exploitation. Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)and Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) were used to detectthe stratigraphy and subsurface structures controlling the groundwater system around Iju - Ota, Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria. Nineteen (19) VES points were carried out where there were dense concentrations of lineaments and interconnected to establish the connection of the observed lineaments with groundwater occurrence in the study area using Schlumberger array, with electrode spacing of AB/2 varying from 180 to 320 m. The analysis of SRTM data revealedthe dominating structural NE-SW and NW-SE trends, which control aquifer structure. The geoelectrical parameters from the VES results were used to map the stratigraphic sequences in the study area. Six (6) units that comprisethe topsoil, lateritic clay, clayey sand, mudstone, sand (main aquifer), and shale or clay were identified in the study area. The aquiferous unit around Iju - Ota axis ranged from 30 to 80 m. Theextracted from the hill shaded SRTM data and the result of VES revealed that the thickness of the aquifer is as a result of interconnectivity of the lineaments observed in the SRTM data suggesting that the groundwater occurrence in the study area is chiefly controlled by these fractures.