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Natural radioactivity in building materials, indoor radon measurements, and assessment of the associated risk indicators in some localities of the Centre Region, Cameroon

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Abstract

The objective of the current study is to investigate the natural radioactivity of some building materials, the resulting long-term external and internal effective dose equivalents (EEDE and IEDE) analysis followed by indoor radon measurements, and the assessment of some radiological risk indicators associated with radon exposure. A total of 37 samples of building materials were analyzed with a sodium iodide detector (NaI (Tl)), and the computer code RESRAD-BUILD was used for the analysis of the EEDE and IEDE of the structural elements of the houses (walls and floor). For indoor radon measurements, 140 houses were selected, and in each of them was placed 01 RADTRAK dosimeter. Inhalation dose, total dose, and some radiological risk indicators were calculated. The specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K for the overall sampled building materials were found to vary between 10 ± 2–52 ± 7, 10 ± 1–95 ± 10, and 31 ± 1–673 ± 20 Bq kg−1, respectively. The dwelling types with bare brick walls, cement mortar plastered walls, and concrete floors show EEDE and IEDE values well below the recommended limits. The corresponding dwelling type contributions to the measured average indoor radon concentration (42 ± 12 Bq m−3) are 22%, 13%, and 16%, respectively. Inhalation dose resulting from the measured indoor radon concentrations varies from 0.35 to 3.24 mSv y−1 with a mean value of 0.96 ± 0.55 mSv y−1, which represents about 65% of the total dose simulated (1.49 ± 0.88 mSv y−1) by the RESRAD-BUILD code. The overall analysis of indoor radon-related radiological risk indicators shows low levels of risk relative to permissible limits.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Abdus Salam ICTP for its support through the OEA-AF-12 project at CEPAMOQ. The Government of Cameroon through the Public Investment Budget 2019 of the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation is acknowledged.

Funding

This work was supported by IAEA within the framework of the Technical Cooperation (TC) Project CMR9009 titled “Establishing a national radon plan for controlling public exposure due to radon indoors” in terms of equipment and trainings and by the Government of Cameroon through the public investment 2019 budget of the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Atomic Molecular Physics and Quantum Optics, University of Douala, PO Box 8580, Douala, Cameroon

    Joseph Emmanuel Ndjana Nkoulou II & Moïse Godfroy Kwato Njock

  2. Research Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology, Institute of Geological and Mining Research, PO Box 4110, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Joseph Emmanuel Ndjana Nkoulou II, André Manga &  Saïdou

  3. Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, PO Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Saïdou

  4. Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety, Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, International Atomic Energy Agency, P.O. Box 100, 1400, Wagramerstrasse, 1020, Vienna, Austria

    Olga German

  5. Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory of the University of Cantabria (LaRUC), University of Cantabria, 39011, Santander, Cantabria, Spain

    Carlos Sainz-Fernandez

Authors
  1. Joseph Emmanuel Ndjana Nkoulou II
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  6. Moïse Godfroy Kwato Njock
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Contributions

JENNII participated in field works (building materials sampling and Radtrak dosimeter deployment), data analysis, and writing. AM participated in field works (building materials sampling and Radtrak dosimeter deployment) and data analysis. Saïdou participated in conception, funding, and reviewing. OG participated in the funding and reviewing. CS participated in the reviewing. MGKN participated in the conception and reviewing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Saïdou.

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Ndjana Nkoulou II, J.E., Manga, A., Saïdou et al. Natural radioactivity in building materials, indoor radon measurements, and assessment of the associated risk indicators in some localities of the Centre Region, Cameroon. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 54842–54854 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19781-z

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