Health Physics and Radiation Biophysics Section

Prof. T. C. Akpa

Objectives

To promote safety in the use of ionizing radiation through research and application of safety standards with special reference to the local problems in Nigeria related to Energy, Nuclear science and Technology.

Research Areas

1. Medical Radiation Safety Assessment (patient and occupational doseassessment in diagnostic radiology, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine)
2. Dose determinations for gamma, X-ray and neutron sources using chemical, thermo-luminescent (TL) and optically stimulated luminescent (OSL) dosimetry
3. Radiological and Nuclear Safety Assessments for Practices and Installations
4. Safety Assessments for Radioactive Waste Management (the borehole concept, use of local material for adsorption of radionuclides, and development of local materials for radioactive waste conditioning)
5. Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials Characterization and Management
6. Thermo-luminescence (TL) and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) Dating of Archeological and Geological Materials, Retrospective Dosimetry Studies and evaluation of local TL/OSL materials
7. Environmental Radioactivity/Radiation Studies
8. Personnel Dosimetry Studies

Training Programmes

1. Training Courses in Radiation Protection for Users of Ionizing Radiation
2. Training Workshops for Radiation Protection/Safety Officers in different practices (Industrial Radiography, Medical Radiology, Nuclear Gauges and Well Logging, and Mining and Milling Processing of Raw Materials)
3. Radiation Protection Training for Radiation Protection Technicians/Technologist

Services

1. Personnel Dose Monitoring
2. Radiation Protection Advisory Services
3. Measurement of alpha and beta radioactivity in different matrices (especially water)
4. Shielding Evaluation
5. Radioactive Waste Management