Screening-Level Radiological Risk Assessment of Natural Radionuclides in Jabi Lake Sediments Using RESRAD-Onsite: A Conservative ScenarioBased Assessment
Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) in lake sediments may contribute to human
radiation exposure through multiple environmental pathways, making periodic radiological
assessment important for environmental protection. This study conducted a screening-level
radiological risk assessment of Jabi Lake, Abuja, Nigeria, using activity concentrations of
226Ra, 232Th, and 40K measured from a one-time sediment sampling campaign and the
RESRAD-Onsite computer code. Gamma spectrometric analysis showed that the measured
radionuclide concentrations and the corresponding radium equivalent activity were below the
recommended UNSCEAR limits, indicating that the present radiological status of the lake
sediments is unlikely to pose significant health concerns. Conservative RESRAD-Onsite
simulations identified fish consumption as the dominant potential exposure pathway and
indicated increased radiation dose and excess lifetime cancer risk under hypothetical long-term
exposure scenarios assuming persistent radionuclide concentrations. These results represent
conservative screening-level estimates rather than predictions of future environmental
conditions. The study provides baseline radiological data for Jabi Lake and demonstrates the
value of integrating environmental measurements with conservative modelling to support
preliminary risk evaluation and future environmental monitoring.