2017 年 6 巻 1 号 p. 22-28
The aim of the study is to assess natural radiation exposure to the public in the gold mining areas of Eastern Cameroon. For this purpose the sodium iodide (NaI) detector was used to determine activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in soil samples. External radiation dose to the public and radiological hazards were assessed. The average activity concentrations determined for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were 40.1 Bq kg-1, 29.4 Bq kg-1, and 216.9 Bq kg-1, respectively in agreement with the mean values given by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). The mean external annual effective dose was found to be 0.34 mSv yr-1. The mean external hazard index was less than unity while the radium equivalent activity of all soil samples have shown lower values than the limit of 370 Bq kg-1 defined by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Results of this study pointed out that soils examined in the gold mining areas of Eastern Cameroon can be used for buildings construction. Some recommendations were drawn to strengthen the environmental protection in mining areas.
