Article

Natural radiation exposure to the public in the oil-bearing Bakassi Peninsula, Cameroon

¹ Nuclear Technology Section, Institute of Geological and Mining Research, P.O. Box 4110, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
² Nuclear Physics Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
³ Centre for Atomic Molecular Physics and Quantum Optics, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box 8580, Douala, Cameroon.

^* saidous2002@yahoo.fr

Received: 10 May 2014
Accepted: 18 August 2014

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to carry out natural radioactivity measurements and corresponding dose assessment in the Bakassi Peninsula, an oil-bearing area located in the Gulf of Guinea. This pilot study required E-perm Electret Ionization Chamber (EIC) exposure in homes and the sampling of soils and foodstuffs representative of the food consumption patterns of the population of Bakassi. The results show high exposure of members of the public to natural radiation. Elevated indoor radon concentrations due to building construction were observed, and high exposure to ²¹⁰Po attributable to the dietary habits of the local population, mainly consisting of seafood. Finally, a total dose of 34.6 mSv.y^-1 was found, much higher than the world average value. In the case of confirmation of the results of this study, countermeasures must be taken into consideration to avoid such a high level of exposure, to reduce the radiation dose to the population. Taking into account the limited number of samples, the present work should be considered as a preliminary study.