DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjpms.2026.v13i01.004

Pages: 25-31

This study determined the activity concentration of naturally occurring radionuclides (Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40) in selected crops and their corresponding cultivated soils in Sokoto East Senatorial District, Sokoto State, Nigeria, with the aim of evaluating soil–plant transfer behavior and potential radiological implications. Soil and plant samples were collected from different farming locations and analyzed using standard gamma-ray spectrometry techniques. The activity concentrations of the radionuclides varied across sampling sites, with soil samples consistently exhibiting higher values than plant samples, indicating limited uptake by crops. Among the radionuclides analyzed, K-40 recorded the highest activity concentrations in both soils and plants due to its natural abundance and essential role in plant physiology, while Ra-226 and Th-232 showed comparatively lower concentrations. The calculated soil–plant transfer factors revealed generally low values for Ra-226 and Th-232, whereas higher transfer factors were observed for K-40, reflecting its greater mobility and bioavailability. The results obtained were within internationally reported natural background levels, suggesting no significant radiological health risk to the local population through consumption of the studied crops. This study provides baseline data on natural radioactivity in agricultural soils and food crops in the study area and contributes to environmental radiological assessment and food safety monitoring in northwestern Nigeria.