Radioactivity level and toxic elemental concentration in groundwater at Dei-Dei and Kubwa areas of Abuja, north-central Nigeria

• The estimation of human radiological risk over lifetime consumption.
• Determination of radiological risks.
• The annual effective dose of 238U in drinking water.
• Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic pollutants.

The activity concentrations of uranium and toxic elements in Dei-Dei borehole, Kubwa borehole, Water Board and hand-dug well water samples in Abuja area were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) system. The results obtained were used to calculate human radiological risk over lifetime consumption by the inhabitants in the area. The activity concentrations of 238U in all the water supplies for drinking ranges from 0.849 mBq L−1 to 2.699 mBq L−1 with the highest value of 2.699 mBq L−1 noted at Dei-Dei borehole whereas the lowest value of 0.849 mBq L−1 was noted in Kubwa borehole. The highest annual effective dose from natural 238U in all the water samples was found in Dei-Dei borehole with a value of 8.9×10−5 mSv y−1 whereas the lowest value was noted in Kubwa borehole with a value of 2.8×10−5 mSv y−1. The radiological risks for cancer mortality were found distinctly low, with the highest value of 1.01×10−7 reported at Dei-Dei borehole compared to Kubwa borehole with a value of 3.01×10−8. The cancer morbidity risk was noted higher in Dei-Dei borehole with a value of 1.55×10−7 whereas lower value of 4.88×10−9 was reported in Kubwa borehole. The chemical toxicity risk of 238U in drinking water over a lifetime consumption has a value of 0.006 μg kg−1 day−1 in Dei-Dei borehole whereas lower value of 0.002 μg kg−1 day−1 was found in Kubwa borehole. Measured lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr) concentrations reported higher in Water Board compared to Dei-Dei and Kubwa borehole samples. Significantly, this study inferred that the 238U concentrations originate from granitic strata of the tectonic events in the area; thus, there was a trend of diffusion towards north to south and re-deposition towards Dei-Dei area.