Natural Radioactivity and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk Associated With Soil in Kargi Area, Marsabit – Kenya

Abstract

Purpose: The main aim of investigating activity concentrations together with distribution of radionuclides naturally in soil from Kargi was to evaluate radiological health hazard together with environmental radioactivity. Research shows radionuclides as one source of exposure due to radiation with detrimental effects health wise for populations found in areas considered high background radiation.
 Methodology: After collecting 117 soil samples from the area, analysis was done in order to measure their natural radioactivities due to 40K, 232Th and 226Ra radionuclides. Measurements method of gamma spectrometry employing a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector was employed basically to evaluate the radiological hazard of radioactivities. For 40K, 232Th and 226Ra, mean calculated activities were 353.19±110.07, 7.98±3.98 and 7.37±2.60 Bqkg-1 respectively. Mean values of absorbed and effective dose rates, external and internal hazard indices together with radium equivalent activity were 23.82±6.59 nGyh-1 and 0.14±0.04 mSvy-1, 0.12±0.03 and 0.14±0.04 and 45.90±12.65 Bqkg-1 respectively. Comparing with approved global values, the values were found to be below the given global limits.
 Findings: Evidence of involvement of metasomatic activity of the radioelements or fractionation during weathering is seen as calculations give a higher value Th/U. Excess cancer risk, calculated from the samples showed lower values as compared to global standard values hence minimal chance of getting cancer disease. The area is safe from cancer causing radionuclides.
 Unique Contribution to theory, Practice and Policy: It is recommended that High Background Radiation Area (HBRA) are healthy and good for human settlement.