Article

Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and the associated radiological hazards in some building materials from Mayo-Kebbi region, Chad

¹ Centre for Atomic Molecular Physics and Quantum Optics (CEPAMOQ), University of Douala, P.O. Box 8580 Douala, Cameroon
² Department of Subatomic Physics, NRF/iThemba LABS, P O Box 722, Somerset West, 7129, South Africa
³ Nuclear Technology Section, Institute of Geological and Mining Research, P.O. Box 4110 Yaounde, Cameroon
⁴ Fundamental Physics Laboratory, Doctorate School for Mathematics, Applied Computer Sciences and Fundamental Physics, University of Douala, P.O. Box 8580 Douala, Cameroon
⁵ Laboratory of Renewable Energies and Materials, Department of Physics, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 1027 N’Djamena, Chad
⁶ Department of Physics, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157 Douala, Cameroon

^* Corresponding author: bonguedaniel@yahoo.fr

Received: 19 February 2018
Accepted: 9 July 2018

Abstract

In order to assess the levels of natural radioactivity and the associated radiological hazards in some building materials of the Mayo-Kebbi region (Chad), a total of nineteen samples were collected on the field. Using a high resolution γ-ray spectrometry system, the activity concentrations of radium (²²⁶Ra), thorium (²³²Th) and potassium (⁴⁰K) in these samples have been determined. The measured average activity concentrations range from 0.56 ± 0.37 Bq kg⁻¹ to 435 ± 7 Bq kg⁻¹, 1.3 ± 0.6 Bq kg⁻¹ to 50.6 ± 1.1 Bq kg⁻¹ and 4.3 ± 2.0 Bq kg⁻¹ to 840 ± 9 Bq kg⁻¹, for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K, respectively. The highest ²²⁶Ra average activities is found in soil brick samples of Zabili. The highest mean value of ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K concentrations are found in soil brick samples of Madajang. The activity concentration and the radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq) have been compared to other studies done elsewhere in the world. Their average values are lower than most of those of countries with which the comparison has been made. Were also evaluated, the external radiation hazard index, the internal radiation hazard index_, the indoor air absorbed dose rate_, the outdoor air absorbed dose rate, the activity utilization index, the annual effective dose, the annual gonadal dose equivalent, the representative level index, as well as, the excess lifetime cancer risk. In accordance with the criterion of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, our results show that soil brick samples of Zabili and Madajang increases the risk of radiation exposure, thereby the possibility of developing cancer by people living in this environment. Based on these findings, brick samples from Zabili and Madajang are not recommended for construction purposes. All other sample materials have properties that are acceptable for use as building materials in terms of radiation hazard.