Indoor Radon Measurements Using Radon Track Detectors and Electret Ionization Chambers in the Bauxite-Bearing Areas of Southern Adamawa, Cameroon

Saïdou, Oumar Bobbo Modibo, Ndjana Nkoulou II Joseph Emmanuel, Olga German, Kountchou Noube Michaux and Hamadou Yerima Abba
Additional contact information
Saïdou: Nuclear Technology Section, Institute of Geological and Mining Research, Yaounde P.O. Box 4110, Cameroon
Oumar Bobbo Modibo: Nuclear Technology Section, Institute of Geological and Mining Research, Yaounde P.O. Box 4110, Cameroon
Ndjana Nkoulou II Joseph Emmanuel: Nuclear Technology Section, Institute of Geological and Mining Research, Yaounde P.O. Box 4110, Cameroon
Olga German: Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety, Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, International Atomic Energy Agency, P.O. Box 100, 1400, Wagramer strasse, 1020 Vienna, Austria
Kountchou Noube Michaux: Nuclear Technology Section, Institute of Geological and Mining Research, Yaounde P.O. Box 4110, Cameroon
Hamadou Yerima Abba: Nuclear Technology Section, Institute of Geological and Mining Research, Yaounde P.O. Box 4110, Cameroon

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-12

Abstract: The current work deals with indoor radon ( 222 Rn) concentrations and ambient dose-equivalent rate measurements in the bauxite-bearing areas of the Adamawa region in Cameroon before mining from 2022. In total, 90 Electret Ionization Chambers (EIC) (commercially, EPERM) and 175 Radon Track Detectors (commercially, RADTRAK 2 ) were used to measure 222 Rn concentrations in dwellings of four localities of the above region. A pocket survey meter (RadEye PRD-ER, Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) was used for the ambient dose-equivalent rate measurements. These measurements were followed by calculations of annual doses from inhalation and external exposure. 222 Rn concentrations were found to vary between 36 ± 8–687 ± 35 Bq m −3 with a geometric mean (GM) of 175 ± 16 Bq m −3 and 43 ± 12–270 ± 40 Bq m −3 with a geometric mean of 101 ± 21 Bq m −3 by using EPERM and RADTRAK, respectively. According to RADTRAK data, 51% of dwellings have radon concentrations above the reference level of 100 Bq m −3 recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The ambient dose equivalent rate ranged between 0.04–0.17 µSv h −1 with the average value of 0.08 µSv h −1 . The inhalation dose and annual external effective dose to the public were assessed and found to vary between 0.8–5 mSv with an average value of 2 mSv and 0.3–1.8 mSv with an average value of 0.7 mSv, respectively. Most of the average values in terms of concentration and radiation dose were found to be above the corresponding world averages given by the United Nations Scientific Commission on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). Even though the current exposure of members of the public to natural radiation is not critical, the situation could change abruptly when mining starts.

Keywords: bauxite; radon; electret ionization chamber; radon track detector; external dose; inhalation dose (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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