Abstract
In order to assess radiological exposure of the public due to natural occurring radioactive materials from gold mining areas of Betare-Oya and vicinity, Eastern Cameroon, a preliminary study was carried out in 2015 for laboratory measurements of activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides. In terms of annual effective dose, results revealed a mean value of 0.34 mSv y-1. However, it was necessary to make air absorbed dose rate contour map for a detailed evaluation of external dose. For this purpose, a car-borne survey using a 3-in × 3-in NaI(Tl) scintillation spectrometer was carried out in Betare-Oya and vicinity. Absorbed dose rates in air ranged from 23 to 80 nGy h-1 with a mean value of 44 ± 7 nGy h-1. The average values of activity concentrations in soil of 40K, 238U and 232Th were 197 ± 21 Bq kg-1, 37 ± 13 Bq kg-1 and 32 ± 7 Bq kg-1 respectively. 232Th was found to be the main contributor to the absorbed dose rate in air from outdoor terrestrial radiation in the study areas with a mean value of 43%. External annual effective dose ranged from 0.17 to 0.60 mSv y-1 with a mean value of 0.33 ± 0.05 mSv y-1, in agreement with the result (0.34 mSv y-1) of the previous study performed in the same areas using gamma spectrometry in laboratory for radioactivity measurements in soil samples. This survey first and widely revealed an aspect of natural radiation exposures in soil mining areas of Eastern Cameroon.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
