~ 26 ~ ISSN Print: 2394-7500 ISSN Online: 2394-5869 Impact Factor: 8.4 IJAR 2022; 8(7): 26-32 www.allresearchjournal.com Received: 05-04-2022 Accepted: 14-06-2022 Nwodo Victor K Department of Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria Nzotta Christian C Department of Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria Chiegwu Hyacinth U Department of Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria Abubakar Mathew G Department of Medical Radiography, University of Maiduguri, Bornu State, Nigeria Ezenma Innocent C Department of Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria Luntsi G Department of Medical Radiography, University of Maiduguri, Bornu State, Nigeria Nwodo Charles U Department of Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria Akubeze Obiechina F Blossom and Balsam Konsult (NAFDAC and Industrial Consultant), Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria Corresponding Author: Pinki Manhas Nwodo Victor K Department of Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria Annual effective dose estimation due to gross alpha and beta activities in groundwater samples from breweries in Nigeria Nwodo Victor K, Nzotta Christian C, Chiegwu Hyacinth U, Abubakar Mathew G, Ezenma Innocent C, Luntsi G, Nwodo Charles U and Akubeze Obiechina F DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/allresearch.2022.v8.i7a.9942 Abstract Background: Water makes up about 90 to 95 percent composition of beer products. The presence of natural radionuclides in groundwater samples used in Nigeria breweries' which spontaneously decay with the emission of gross alpha and beta activities (Gα and β RAC) when ingested, may result in internal irradiation of the human body. It is therefore imperative to determine the potential radiation hazard (Annual effective dose). Materials and Methods: Groundwater samples were obtained from fourteen (14) different brewery sites in Nigeria. Fifteen (15) ml/L of 1 mol/dm 3 of concentrated Trioxonitrate (v) acid was added into each groundwater sample immediately after collection from the sources to preserve the radionuclides from container wall adsorption. Further sample preparation and analysis were carried out in the laboratory of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Accra using Method 900 of the US Environmental Protection Agency. Canberra iMatic TM Automatic low background gas-filled counter was used for determination of Gα and β RAC in groundwater samples. IBM SPSS version 20 was used for statistical analysis. Annual Effective Dose (AED) in groundwater samples were estimated using a mathematical formula: AEDα/β (mSv y -1 ) = Aα/β x IRw/b x CF. Results: Mean values for Gα and β RAC in Nigeria breweries' groundwater samples were 0.370±0.34 Bq/L and 0.193±0.26 Bq/L respectively. Values for Gα RAC were higher than the WHO recommended safe limits for most brewery sites whereas the Gβ RAC were within the safe limit established by WHO. Highest AED value due to alpha emitting radionuclides in groundwater samples was recorded in Northern Nigeria (1.3240 mSv/y) while south-south region recorded the least value (0.6209mSv/y) but were all above the WHO recommended safeguard of 0.1mSv/y. Conclusion: Results obtained from this study were above the recommended WHO safe level and therefore may pose radiological health hazards to consumers. Radioactivity water treatment plant as well as routine radiation monitoring are recommended for all breweries' groundwater sources in Nigeria. Keywords: Effective dose, gross alpha/beta, groundwater, radionuclide and radioactivity Introduction Water is an indispensable integral part of our ecosystem and vital for human existence. It is well-known as universal solvent and makes up about 90-95% content of all ingredients used in breweries for brewing beers [1, 3] . Breweries in Nigeria are sited strategically at different geographical locations with possible variations in concentration of gross alpha and beta activities from radionuclides in their local environmental compositions such as groundwater [4, 5] . Indigenous researchers have discovered that most materials in our immediate vicinity such as the food and water we ingest all contain some natural radionuclides with variations in their activity concentrations [6, 9] . The presence and concentration of gross alpha and beta activities emanating from decay of radionuclides dissolved in groundwater we often ingest on regular bases varies geographically due to local geological variations of different environments [7, 4, 10] . Ingestion, absorption and deposition of radionuclides in groundwater inside the body tissue are often excreted via defecation, sweating or urination and are consistently replenished by ingestion of contaminated food and water [10, 12] . Alpha particle emitters (Uranium-238, International Journal of Applied Research 2022; 8(7): 26-32