Terrestrial Radiation of Some Selected Active Telecommunication Sites in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

A study on terrestrial background ionization radiation was carried out around active selected telecommunications sites in Port Harcourt. This study was done using Radalert 100 and the geographical position system (GPS). The exposure rate ranged from 0.033 to 0.141 with a mean value of 0.123±0.20 (mR/h) which is lower than the acceptable limit of 0.0133 (mR/h). The absorbed dose ranged from 287.1 nG/h to 1226.7 nGy/hr with a mean value of 1066.64±1769.6 nGy/hr, which is quite higher than the acceptable limit of 89.0 nGy/h. The annual effective dose ranged between 0.44 and 1.88 mSv/y, with a mean value of 1.642.7 mSv/y which is quite higher than the safe limit of 1.0 mSv/y. The excess lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) varied from 1.54 x10-3 to 6.58x10-3 with a mean value of 5. 72±9.5 mSv/y. The result from this study is higher than the acceptable limit of 0.29 x10-3 as recommended by UNSCEAR. This means that people living within these areas may be exposed to cancer in later life. The effective dose of the various organs (ED Organs) are within the recommended safe limit of ICRP. The testes and the bone marrow are the most sensitive to radiation with the percentage distribution of 18.0% and 16.0%. Since the Annual effective dose, absorbed dose, and excess lifetime cancer risk are higher than the world standard, the chances of contracting cancer related illnesses are significant. It is recommended that monitoring of the exposure rate to ionizing radiation within the environment should be carried out. Also, individuals should on regular basis request for specific organ dose test.