**5. Conclusion**

G ¼ RTSE (11)

. The radiological index

*YC* ¼ *α*SE (12)

, with 1.25 � <sup>10</sup>�<sup>2</sup> Sv�<sup>1</sup> representing the value for fatal

From Eq. (11), RT represents the total risk factor the body organs are exposed to, as recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection, ICRP [39], where these risk factors are used in assessing the fatal radiation-induced cancers and severe hereditary effects in the first two generations. It has a gross

radiation-induced cancers and 0.4 � <sup>10</sup>�<sup>2</sup> Sv�<sup>1</sup> representing the value for severe hereditary effects, for the first two generations, while SE is the collective effective

*Multifunctionality and Impacts of Organic and Conventional Agriculture*

The estimation of the total health detriment is vital and necessary because any health detriment on this populace will impact negatively on the entire population. The total health detriment for the three age brackets computed in the different milk products examined is presented in **Table 8**. The total health detriment to man obtained for powdered milk are 91.6 for infants, 153.5 for children, and 99.4 for adults. In the liquid milks, the values obtained for the age groups are 76.6 for infants, 131.2 for children, and 96.4 for adults. This calculated total health detriment indicates that for every 5,180,899 Nigerian infants consuming milk products, 168 of them have the probability to have radiological health-related side effects from the intake of milk products. Similarly, the evaluation of the gross health detriment indicates that for every 14,509,295 Nigerian children consuming milk products, 285 are likely to have a radiological health risk from the intake of milk, while of the estimated 48,440,503 Nigerian adults that consume milk products, 196 are likely to have a radiological health hazard, with fatal radiation-induced cancers the most

obtained shows a ratio of 1:30,839 for infants, 1:50,910 for children, and 1:247,145 for adults, with infants' radiological index ratio being the highest. This indicates

The correlation between the cost of the health detriment and collective effective

where *YC* is the cost of health detriment, SE is the collective effective dose equivalent (man-Sv), and *α* is the collective dose equivalent constant. If it were possible to arrive at a common monetary value for the cost of radiation harmful stochastic health effects, then *α* would have a unique value. But it is not practically possible due to socioeconomic considerations that vary from country to country and from time to time. A review of literatures indicates a wide range of *α* values ranging from 1000 to 100,000 US dollars [38]. Considering the low per capita income of African countries including Nigeria which is below US \$100 per day, the cost of detriment analysis value of US \$1000 was assigned to human life. This value does not necessarily mean a real monetary value of life but rather is proposed to provide measures by which fair and consistent resources are allocated to radiation protection [21]. From the computed result of the total cost of health detriment from the collective effective dose equivalent to the different age group in **Table 8**, it was observed that children age group has the highest cost health detriment per-caput dose with an estimated total cost of health detriment of US \$17.256 million, followed by adults with an estimated cost implication of US \$11.864 million, while infants

value of 1.65 � <sup>10</sup>�<sup>2</sup> Sv�<sup>1</sup>

**4.4 Cost of detriment**

**76**

dose equivalent (man–Sv) [38].

probable, going by the risk factor of 1.25 � <sup>10</sup>�<sup>2</sup> Sv�<sup>1</sup>

dose equivalent is a linear one. It is expressed as [38]:

that the infants are most vulnerable radiologically in milk intake.

have the least with an estimated cost implication of US \$10.192.

This investigation presents the gamma spectrometry evaluation of the natural radioactivity in powdered and liquid milk consumed in Nigeria. The radionuclide concentration of the milk samples was found to be dictated by the source the milks products were derived. Although the specific activity concentration of milk samples varied, their mean activities were less than the world permissible dose limit for the public. The radium equivalent activities obtained for all the milk samples (powdered or liquid) considered were all below the criterion limit of radiation dose (1.0 Sv y<sup>1</sup> ). All the calculated radiological risk parameters show that none of the milk samples exceeded their recommended allowable level. It was however found from the annual effective dose calculation that the consumption of powder and liquid milk by infants and children at the rate of 14 kg y<sup>1</sup> and 15 kg y<sup>1</sup> , respectively, may lead to a radiation dose to vital organs of the body above normal recommended values, but optimized quantity was suggested for the group to stay within the recommended permissible limit. On the cost-benefit analysis, the estimated collective effective equivalent dose values obtained show that the children population receives the highest dose. The total health detriment values obtained revealed a low detrimental effect to consumers of these milk brands. The calculated values of the total cost of health detriment revealed that the children age group has the highest cost health detriment per-caput dose, followed by adults, while infants have the least; these values obtained are observed to be low. The overall result therefore shows that the powdered and liquid milks consumed in Nigeria are radiologically safe and may not cause immediate or significant radiation health hazard to consumers of the examined milk brands. However, optimizing radiation protection by means of this cost-benefit analysis is recommended.
