Assessment of Radiogenic Heat Production in Soil Samples around Ife Steel Rolling Mill Site in Southwestern Nigeria

In this study, the analysis of soil samples was carried out to determine the concentrations, distribution and the pattern of Radiogenic Heat Production of some heavy elements in soil samples inside a steel rolling mill in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria within latitudes 6033'N and 6046'N; and longitudes 4044'E and 4054'E. The distribution of K, U, and Th was particularly investigated in this site. Soil samples were collected from thirty (30) points along three traverses at a space interval of 20cm covering a survey area of 80cm by 60cm within the Rolling mill. The analysis of the soil samples using a cylindrical NaI(Tl) detector reveals that the contents of the radioactive elements in the soil fall below the WHO's critical values of contaminated soil. Field observations and soil properties show that the soils were derived from weathering of pre-existing sedimentary bedrocks which constitute the geology of the area. The results also show that the contribution and rate of heat production of 40K, 238U and 232Th in the samples vary significantly with geological locations, with 40K as the major element which predominates in heat production for the Upper profile of the study area, while 238U and 232Th are trace elements. The radiogenic heat production elements (RHPE) contribution shows that all the points on the sites have the same pattern of radiogenic heat production contribution of the elements to the radiogenic heat production (RHP).