Abstract

The knowledge of external and internal doses of radiation emitted from radionuclides contained in different chemical fertilizers sold in Ibadan Nigeria is very important Therefore activity concentrations of 40K 226Ra and 232Th radionuclides in Urea NPK 15 15 15 NPK 16 16 16 and Single Super Phosphate SSP fertilizer brands sold in the area for agricultural purposes were determined using gamma ray spectroscopy Radium equivalent activity Raeq gamma radiation or representative index alpha index annual gonadal dose equivalent AGDE external exposure Dext to gamma radiation as well as internal exposure Dint to doses of radiation to the marketers and users of the products were calculated The calculated Raeq for the four brands of chemical fertilizers were 80 90 295 95 293 93 and 706 17 respectively External gamma doses were 0 60 6 73 6 65 and 13 00 while the sum of the internal doses due to inhalation and ingestion were found as 3 93 4 51 3 61 and 8 97 respectively More external and internal doses of radiation were calculated for marketers of the products than farmers The order of SSP NPKs Urea fertilizers was observed for external exposure to gamma radiation The results could serve as important radiometric data and information upon which future environmental monitoring of external and internal exposure to gamma radiation and alpha parti