ABSTRACT Fertilizers have been implicated for being contaminated with toxic trace elements and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) even though they are an indispensible component of our agriculture. This phenomenon of contamination has been investigated and established world-wide in various forms of fertilizers (i.e., granular or “traditional” type and liquid/powder or “non-traditional type”). In Ghana, the crop sub-sector has seen a gradual rise in the importation and u...
ABSTRACT The European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR) and Hualong One Pressurized Water Reactor (HPR) are two of the reactors under consideration by the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme. Radiotoxicity analysis of Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) assembly was carried out with these commercial Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) nuclear power technology as case study. Burnup depletion calculation for the Uranium Oxide (UOX) fuel of these reactor technologies was simulated. Monte Carlo Neutron Particle Extende...
ABSTRACT Recent introduction of man-made toxic chemicals, and the massive relocation of natural materials to different environmental compartments like soil, ground water and atmosphere, has resulted in severe pressure on the self-cleansing capacity of recipient ecosystems. Various accumulated pollutants and contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are of much concern relative to both human and ecosystem exposure and potential health impact. PCBs which are resistant to degradati...
ABSTRACT Nuclear power plants vary based on their technology, design and material composition of the various components of the reactor. Nigeria's decision to adopt nuclear technology for power generation presents the need for comparison of the different types of nuclear power plants based on waste generation, to help in choosing which of the reactors to adopt using Open Fuel Cycle, knowing that the generation of waste during the lifetime and operation of a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is a point...
ABSTRACT An x-ray dose above the maximum permissible limit is harmful to human beings. A study of x-ray attenuation by materials is an important subject in protecting humans from harmful effects of radiation. Thus it is desirable to have knowledge about materials for effective x-ray shielding. Concrete is the most widely used construction material for this purpose and its composition plays an essential role in modifying the mechanical properties which affects significantly the shielding prope...
ABSTRACT In this study, the Monte Carlo N-particle simulation code MCNPX-2.6.0 was used to determine the shielding effectiveness of clay, wood and sandstone. This was done by determining the transmission of 60Co gamma and X-rays with energies 60 keV, 120 keV and 300 keV through wood, clay and sandstone. The transport computations were done for slab shield, computing half-value layers (HVLs), tenth-value layers (TVLs), buildup factors, and attenuation coefficients (both linear and mass attenua...
ABSTRACT A manual eight multi-leaf collimator (MLC) has been designed and fabricated for the Cirus cobalt-60 machine at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The fabricated MLC is made up of a high carbon steel leaves. The leaf in each bank has a standard width of 7.5 cm projected at the isocentre at a thickness of 4.6 cm. The leaf transmission factor was determined to be 4.8%, which is within the acceptable standard of below 5%. The cobalt-60 beam characteristics such as beam profiles, output ...
ABSTRACT Radio communication is an integral part of any military operation. This helps commanders at all levels to achieve command and control in their operational environment. The employment of these radios with their corresponding antennas has led to an increase in the concern of the potential health risks that may arise as a result of exposure to radio frequency (RF) radiations. The main objective of this research was to determine the levels of radio frequency field exposure to military pe...
ABSTRACT The population within Bongo and Kassena Nankana West Districts, in the Upper East Region of Ghana is estimated to be about 84,545 and 70,667, respectively. An estimate of about 80% of the population depends on groundwater for domestic and agricultural purposes. However, groundwater resources in the Districts is at risk due to anthropogenic activities such as rapid increase in irrigation activities and animals rearing, open defecation and uncontrolled disposal of animal droppings, imp...
ABSTRACT Water is used in almost all human activities and large amounts of wastewater are produced every time. Wastewater need to be treated before it is discharged into the environment because it contains possible harmful substances which can pollute the environment and threaten life. Waste water treatment methods vary from industry to industry according to the process utilized. In most cases, the contaminants are not fully removed from waste water before discharge, due to certain malfunctio...
ABSTRACT This study examines the current state of the shielding integrity of the 38.7 TBq Co-60 gamma ray scanner with an average energy of 1.25 MeV operated by NICK TC Scan Limited, which has been in use for destination inspection at Aflao Border of Ghana, for the past six years, (2010-2016). The facility uses a high energy ionizing radiation in its operation; therefore continuous adequacy of the installed biological shielding is critical to the protection and safety of the workers and the g...
Abstract A year-long investigation has been carried out on atmospheric particulate matter (APM). Elemental composition,mass concentration, sources contributions and their fingerprints were determined in APM samples collected, in Agbogbloshie scrap market, between May 2010 and April 2011. PM2.5 and PM102.5 size fractions of APM were collected 24-hourly on 47 mm diameter nuclepore filters of pore sizes 0.4 µm and 8 µm respectively, using the Gent sampler. Gravimetric analyses were carried out...
ABSTRACT Sandcrete is widely used as building material. Its properties greatly depend on the properties and proportions of its constituents. The main binder material to produce sandcrete is the Portland cement. The uncertainty about future availability of commonly used Portland materials concomitantly with the environmental problems such as greenhouse gases emissions and high cost of clinker consumption are highlighting the need of identifying other materials for the construction industry, w...
ABSTRACT Non-destructive testing (NDT) is a group of inspection techniques used to detect, locate and assess flaws in materials without affecting, in any way, their continued usefulness or serviceability. NDT has the ability to inspect castings, weldments and measure wall thicknesses in an accurate and comprehensive manner. In this study, NDT techniques were used to inspect large diameter pipes that are used for transporting substance in the form of liquids and gases in industries. The aim o...
ABSTRACT Ghana is in the process of converting its fuel from Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) to Lowly Enriched Uranium (LEU) even though the HEU fuel is not fully spent, thus the handling of the irradiated fuel is in the offing. Irradiated fuel consists of radioactive fission and activation products generated in the nuclear fuel which are hazardous to personnel, environment and the public. As a result, the knowledge of the dose rate will aid in safe guarding the process of core conversion. Two ...