Cluster Analysis on Radioactivity Levels of K-40, Ra-226, and Th-232 at Chikun Environment of Kaduna State, Nigeria, Using the R Package

Handan T Elisha, Sarki S Habila, Shirley O Yakubu, Umar Isah, and Davou H Daze
2025-11-10 114 views 1 downloads

 

Exposure to ionizing radiation from both natural and anthropogenic sources poses serious environmental and health concerns. This study used hierarchical clustering to investigate the spatial distribution of naturally occurring radionuclides K-40, Ra-226, and Th-232 in soil samples collected from 14 locations within Chikun Local Government Area (LGA), Kaduna State, Nigeria. Using the R statistical package, single and complete linkage methods were implemented on Euclidean distance matrices to identify natural groupings among the sampling sites. The optimal number of clusters, determined through the elbow and silhouette methods, was found to be two (2), with further sub-groupings evident in the complete linkage dendrogram. The first cluster comprises the KRPC1 and KRPC2 sampling sites, situated near the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company. These sites exhibited the highest mean activity concentrations of the measured radionuclides, with values of 106.14 Bq/kg for K-40, 265.84 Bq/kg for Ra-226, and 827.52 Bq/kg for Th-232, respectively. The second cluster comprised residential neighborhoods and nearby waste disposal sites, demonstrating comparatively lower activity concentrations of the radionuclides. This spatial distribution suggests that refinery operations exert a pronounced influence on localized radioactivity levels, while the surrounding residential and dumpsite areas exhibit only residual contamination. These results underscore the effectiveness of cluster analysis as a tool for interpreting environmental radioactivity patterns and reinforce the need for sustained monitoring and public health safeguards in industrialized settings.

 

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