Nuclear geophysical assessment of aquifer groundwater quality in Okerenkoko community, Niger Delta: implications for human health risk.

Oghenevovwero, Esi Emmanuel; Peretomode, Ebikapaye; Ogheneovo, Akpoyibo

Abstract

The evaluation of aquifer groundwater quality in Okerenkoko, an oil-producing community in southern Niger Delta, Nigeria was conveyed by exploiting the vertical electrical soundings (VES) method with the support (aid) of Terrameter (1000) The Assays, Borehole Electro-Magnetics (ABEM) signal (recording) averaging system, groundwater collection and samples analysis with the assistance of sodium iodide [Na(TI)] detector. ABEM device is an easy-to-use, quick survey tool that can provide accurate resistivity models in the sounding field for environmental research, groundwater exploration, mapping, and tracking, as well as subsurface formations and mineral deposits studies. It takes only a few minutes to study depths of hundreds of meters, and the ABEM can complete the task. The geotechnical resistivity method of eight (8) VES units exposed the studied layers of the locations with poor/pathetic (<0.1 mho), weak/deficient (0.1–0.19 mho), and moderate/fair (0.2–0.69 mho) conductance identified by the longitudinal conductance map. It also revealed the depth of aquifer groundwater reservoirs to be 60–80 meters as shown from infinite vertical thickness via resistivity measurement of 562.0 to 7794.6 Ωm, in the fifth layer of the sand cluster. Therefore, thirty groundwater samples were collated and analyzed to establish the level and extent (amount) of hydrocarbon contamination, and pollution radiology of the aquifer groundwater quality within the reservoir depth. The mean results of radionuclide activity concentrations of aquifer groundwater are 264.85 ± 19.27Bql−1, 16.22 ± 4.18Bql−1, and 4.22 ± 1.11 Bql−1 for 40K, 238U, and 232Th respectively. The mean results exceeded world limits of 10 Bql−1 1.0 Bql−1 and 0.1 Bql−1 respectively. This may be attributed to petroleum hydrocarbon contamination waste released, oil spillage, the geological configuration of the area, and other anthropologic activities in the area. Nevertheless, the calculated radiological index health implications of aquifer groundwater mean results slightly exceeded world permissible limits. Therefore, there should be proper treatment of the aquifer groundwater before usage for domestic, agricultural, and industrial (purposes) works.

Citation

OGHENEVOVWERO, E.E., PERETOMODE, E. and OGHENEVOVO, A. 2025. Nuclear geophysical assessment of aquifer groundwater quality in Okerenkoko community, Niger Delta: implications for human health risk. Water science [online], 39(1), pages 96-108. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/23570008.2025.2464978

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 3, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Feb 8, 2025
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2025
• Deposit Date: Feb 18, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 18, 2025
• Journal: Water Science
• Print ISSN: 2357-0008
• Electronic ISSN: 2357-0008
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 96-108
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23570008.2025.2464978
• Keywords: Groundwater pollution; Geotechnical resistivity; Health risk assessments; Pollution radiology; Nigeria
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2702698