Skip to main content

Radiological monitoring and statistical approach of primordial and anthropogenic radionuclides in surface soil of Mami-water site in the Western Cameroon

Environmental Earth Sciences volume 76, Article number: 612 (2017) Cite this article

Abstract

The study referred to measure activity concentrations of some primordial radionuclides and anthropogenic of 137Cs in soil samples of Mami-water in the Menoua subdivision, Dschang employing gamma-ray spectrometry-based characterized Broad Energy Germanium (BE6350) detector and a comparison of radiological and safety impact parameters on human due to primordial radioactivity in soil with some internationally approved values. In addition, statistical analysis of primordial radionuclides of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K was performed to evaluate the distribution and the interrelation of radionuclides. Samples were randomly collected from a depth of about 0 to 5 cm from the top surface layer. Each of the sampling points was considered as being overlaid with a grid and subdivided into cells. The observed radioactivity level of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the investigated soil samples was compared with some published data available in some countries including Cameroon and observed varying within some reported data of radioactivity in soil from bauxite ore deposit. 235U and 137Cs were found in very few samples with a very low average of activity concentrations. In the majority of the samples, the observed radiological safety parameters seem to be greater than the internationally approved values. Consequently, using bricks made of soil as building materials might lead to an increase in radiation risk for the population. Multivariate statistical analysis of activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides performed showed an asymmetrical distribution with more peaked than Gaussian distribution and relatively flatter distribution of radionuclides in soil. In addition, a good positive interrelation between 226Ra and 232Th was observed and a weak negative one observed between 40K and 226Ra–232Th.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

References

  • Ababneh AM, Molham EM (2015) Coincidence summing corrections in HPGe gamma ray spectrometry for Marinelli-beakers geometry using peak to total (P/T) calibration. J Radiat Res Appl Sci 8(3):323–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ademola JA, Olatunji MA (2013) Evaluation of NORM and dose assessment in an aluminium industry in Nigeria. World J Nucl Sci Technol 3(4):150–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alam MN, Miah MMH, Chowdhury MI, Kamal M, Ghose S, Islam MN, Mustafa MN, Miah MSR (1999) Radiation dose estimation from radioactivity analysis of lime and cement used in Bangladesh. J Environ Radioact 42:77–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amin UMM (2011) The specific activity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K for assessment of radiation hazards from building materials commonly used in Upper Egypt. SDU J Sci (E J) 6(2):120–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Ananfouet DCY (2012) Cartographie et caractérisation géotechnique des sols développés sur roche volcaniques de la ville de Dschang (Ouest-Cameroun). Thesis Master of Sciences, University of Dschang

  • Aoun M, ElSamad O, BouKhozam R, Lobinski R (2015) Assessment of committed effective dose due to the ingestion of 210Po and 210Pb in consumed Lebanese fish affected by a phosphate fertilizer plant. J Environ Radioact 140:25–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Badawy WM, Mamikhin SV (2012) Radioactivity measurement and dose rate calculation due to γ-ray of soil from Chashnikovo-Russia. Arab J Nucl Sci Appl 45(2):270–282

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett BG (1997) Exposure to natural radiation worldwide. In: Proceedings of the fourth international conference on high levels of natural radiation: radiation doses and health effects, Beijing. Elsevier, Tokyo

  • Beretka J, Mathew PJ (1985) Natural radioactivity of Australian building materials, industrial wastes and by-products. Health Phys 48:87–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beyala AJF, Owono A, Ben-Bolie GH, Ele AP, Abega CR, Mvondo S (2010) Natural background dose measurements in South Cameroon. Radiat Prot Dosim 140(1):81–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buccianti A, Appollaro C, Bloise A, De Rosa R, Falcone G, Scarciglia F, Tallarico A, Vecchio G (2009) Natural radioactivity levels (K, Th, U and Rn) in the Cecita Lake area (Sila Massif, Calabria, Southern Italy): an attempt to discover correlations with soil features on a statistical base. Geoderma 152(1–2):145–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buttafuoco G, Tallarico A, Falcone G, Guagliardi I (2010) A geostatistical approach for mapping and uncertainty assessment of geogenic radon gas in soil in an area of southern Italy. Environ Earth Sci 61(3):491–505

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho FP, Madruga MJ, Reis MC, Alves JG, Oliveira JM, Gouveia J, Silva L (2007) Radioactivity in the environment around past radium and uranium mining sites of Portugal. J Environ Radioact 96(1–3):39–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chandrasekaran A, Rajalakshmi A, Ravisankar R, Vijayagopal P, Venkatraman B (2015) Measurements of natural gamma radiations and effects of physico-chemical properties in soils of Yelagiri hills, Tamilnadu India with statistical approach. Procedia Earth Planet Sci 11:531–538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper MB (2005) Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in Australian industries—review of current inventories and future generation. Report prepared for the Radiation Health and Safety Advisory Council

  • Cooper MB, Clarke PC, Robertson W, McPharlin IR, Jeffrey RC (1995) An investigation of radionuclide uptake into food crops grown in soils treated with bauxite mining residues. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 194(2):379–387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dragović S, Lj Janković, Onjia A (2006) Assessment of gamma dose rates from terrestrial exposure in serbia and montenegro. Radiat Prot Dosim 121(3):297–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ele AP, Ateba OP, Ben-Bolie GH, Ekobena FHP, El-Khukhi T (2010) High background radiation investigated by gamma spectrometry of the soil in South-western region of Cameroon. J Environ Radioact 101(9):739–743

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faanu A, Kpeglo DO, Sackey M, Darko EO, Lawluvi H, Awudu R, Adukpo OK (2013) Natural and artificial radioactivity distribution in soil, rock and water of the Central Ashanti Gold Mine, Ghana. Environ Earth Sci 70(4):1593–1604

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faanu A, Adukpo OK, Tettey LL, Lawluvi H, Kpeglo DO, Darko EO, Emi-Reynolds G, Awudu RA, Kansana C, Amoah PA, Efa AO, Ibrahim AD, Agyeman B, Kpodzro R, Agyeman L (2016) Natural radioactivity levels in soils, rocks and water at a mining concession of Perseus gold mine and surrounding towns in Central Region of Ghana. Springerplus 5:98. doi:10.1186/s40064-016-1716-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González-Fernández D, Garrido-Pérez MC, Casas-Ruiz M, Barbero L, Nebot-Sanz E (2012) Radiological risk assessment of naturally occurring radioactive materials in marine sediments and its application in industrialized coastal areas: Bay of Algeciras, Spain. Environ Earth Sci 66:1175–1181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guagliardi I, Buttafuoco G, Apollaro C, Bloise A, De Rosa R, Cicchella D (2013) Using gamma-ray spectrometry and geostatistics for assessing geochemical behaviour of radioactive elements in the Lese catchment (Southern Italy). Int J Environ Res 7(3):645–658

    Google Scholar 

  • Guagliardi I, Rovella N, Apollara C, Bloise A, DeRosa R, Scarciglia F, Buttafuoco G (2016a) Effects of source rocks, soil features and climate on natural gamma radioactivity in the Crati valley (Calabria, Southern Italy). Chemosphere 150:97–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guagliardi I, Rovella N, Apollaro C, Bloise A, De Rosa R, Scarcighia F, Buttafuoco G (2016b) Modelling seasonal variations of Natural Radioactivity in soils: a case study in Southern Italy. J Earth Syst Sci 125(8):1568–1578. doi:10.1007/s12040-016-0758-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill VG (1995) The mineralogy and genesis of the bauxite deposits of Jamaica, B.W.I. Am Miner 40:676–688

    Google Scholar 

  • IAEA (1996) International basic safety standards for protection against ionising radiation and for the safety of radiation sources, safety series no. 115. IAEA, Vienna

  • IAEA (2003) Extend of environmental contamination by naturally occurring radioactive material and technological options for mitigation. Technical report series 419. IAEA, Vienna

  • ICRP (1991) 1990 recommendations of the international commission on radiological protection, ICRP publication 60. Pergamon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Jabbar A, Arshel W, Bhatti AS, Seyd AS, Saeed-Ur-Rehman MuhammadD (2010) Measurement of soil radioactivity levels and radiation hazard assessment in mid Rechna interfluvial region, Pakistan. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 283(2):371–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kengni L, Simo PJ, Temgoua E, Tematio P, Ndam NJR, Boeglin JL (2013) Hydrogeochemical processes in the southern slope of the bambouto mountain (west cameroon). Int J Eng Sci Technol 5(4):893–908. ISSN: 0975-5462

  • Kogan RM, Nazarov LM, Fridman ShD (1969) Gamma spectrometry of natural environments and formations. Moskva Atomizdat, Moscow

    Google Scholar 

  • Leung KC, Lau SY, Poon CB (1990) Gamma radiation dose from radionuclides in Hong Kong soil. J Environ Radioact 11:279–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manohar SN, Meijer HAJ, Herber MA (2013) Radon flux maps for the Netherlands and Europe using terrestrial gamma radiation derived from soil radionuclides. Atmos Environ 81:399–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mehra R, Kumar S, Sonkawade R, Singh NP, Badhan K (2010) Analysis of terrestrial naturally occurring radionuclides in soil samples from some areas of Sirsa district of Haryana, India using gamma ray spectrometry. Environ Earth Sci 59:1159–1164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller MO, Dionne MA (2016) The technological enhancement of normally occurring radioactive materials in red mud due to the production of alumina. Int J Spectrosc 2016. Article ID 4589460. doi:10.1155/2016/4589460

  • Ndontchueng MM, Njinga RL, Nguelem EJM, Simo A, Beyala Ateba JF (2014) 238U, 235U, 137Cs and 133Xe in soils from two campuses in University of Douala-Cameroon. Appl Radiat Isot 86:85–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ndontchueng MM, Nguelem EJM, Motapon O, Njinga RL, Simo A, Guembou JCS, Yimele B (2015) Radiological hazards in soil from the bauxite deposits sites in Dschang region of Cameroon. Br J Appl Sci Technol 5(4):342–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ngachin M, Garavaglia M, Giovani C, Kwato NMG, Nourreddine A (2008) Radioactivity level and soil radon measurement of a volcanic area in Cameroon. J Environ Radioact 99:1056–1060

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nguelem MEJ, Ndontchueng MM, Motapon O (2016) Determination of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, 235U and 238U activity concentration and public dose assessment in soil samples from bauxite core deposits in Western Cameroon. Springerplus 5(1):1253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nouazi MM, Tematio P, Yemefack M (2012) Multi-scale organization of the Doumbouo-Fokoué bauxites ore deposits (West Cameroon): implication to the landscape lowering. Open Journal of Geology 2:14–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OECD/NEA (1979) Exposure to radiation from natural radioactivity in building materials. In: Proceedings of report by NEA Group of Experts, Nuclear Energy Agency. OECD, Paris

  • Pinnock WR (1991) Measurements of radioactivity in Jamaican building materials and gamma dose equivalents in a prototype red mud house. Health Phys 61(5):647–651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ravisankar R, Sivakumar S, Chandrasekaran A, Ravikumar SM, Jebakumar JPP, Vijayagopal P, Vijayalakshmi I, Jose MT (2014) Measurement of natural radioactivity and evaluation of radiation hazards in coastal sediments of east coast of Tamilnadu using statistical approach. J Taibah Univ Sci 8(4):375–384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saïdou, Bochud FO, Baechler S, Kwato NM, Ngachin M, Froidevaux P (2011) Natural radioactivity measurements and dose calculations to the public: case of the uranium-bearing region of Poli in Cameroon. Radiat Meas 46:254–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sigurgeirsson MA, Arnalds O, Palsson SE, Howard BJ, Gudnason K (2005) Radiocaesium fallout behaviour in volcanic soils in Iceland. J Environ Radioact 79:39–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srilatha MC, Rangaswamy DR, Sannappa J (2014) Measurement of natural radioactivity and radiation hazard assessment in the soil samples of Ramanagara and Tumkur districts, Karnataka. India. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 303(1):993–1003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Summers KJ, O’Connor BH, Fox DR (1993) Radiological consequences of amending soils with bauxite residue/gypsum mixtures. Aust J Soil Res 31(4):533–538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsai TL, Liu CC, Chuang CY, Wei HJ, Men LC (2011) The effects of physico-chemical properties on natural radioactivity levels, associated dose rate and evaluation of radiation hazard in the soil of Taiwan using statistical analysis. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 288(3):927–936

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tufail M, Asghar M, Akram M, Javied S, Khan K, Mujahid SA (2013) Measurement of natural radioactivity in soil from Peshawar basin of Pakistan. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 298(2):1085–1096

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turfan MC, Bostancı S (2012) Radioactivity concentrations in soil and dose assessment for Samsun City Centre, Turkey. Radiat Prot Dosim 151(3):532–536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turhan KA, Varinlioğlu A, Şahin NK, Arıkan İ, Oğuz F, Yücel B, Özdemir T (2012) Distribution of terrestrial and anthropogenic radionuclides in Turkish surface soil samples. Geoderma 187–188:117–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tzortzis M, Tsertos H, Christofides S, Christodoulides G (2003) Gamma radiation measurements and dose rates in commercially-used natural tiling rocks (granites). J Environ Radioact 70(3):223–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNSCEAR (2000) Sources, effects and risks of ionizing radiation, vol 1. Report to the General Assembly. United Nations, New York

  • UNSCEAR (2008) Report to the general assembly. Annex B Exposures of the public and workers from various sources of radiation

  • Winkelmann I, Thomas M, Vogl K (2001) Aerial measurements on uranium oremining, milling and processing areas in Germany. J Environ Radioact 53(3):301–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wouatong ASL, Tchungouelieu HW, Ngapgue F, Katte V, Beyala KKV (2014) Mineralogical and Geotechnical Characteristics of the Loose Weathered Trachytes of Fongo-Tongo (West-Cameroon). Int J Appl Sci Technol (IJAST) 4(7):85–96

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Director General of Cameroon National Regulatory Body, Dr. Augustin SIMO, for providing access to the gamma spectrometry and radioanalytical laboratory. The authors also appreciate the community of Mami-water and Prof. Tchoffo at the faculty of sciences, the University of Dschang for the understanding and availability during sampling. We also wish to address special thanks to Dr. Paul Animbom Ngon, Lecturer at the University of Bamenda-Cameroon for English check and correction. The authors also wish to extend their sincere gratitude to the reviewers and editors for their criticisms and suggestions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fundamental Physics Laboratory, Mathematics, Applied Computer Sciences and Fundamental Physics, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon

    E. J. M. Nguelem, O. Motapon & C. J. S. Guembou

  2. Department of Physics, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon

    M. M. Ndontchueng & O. Motapon

  3. The National Radiation Protection Agency, P.O. Box 33732, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    E. J. M. Nguelem & M. M. Ndontchueng

  4. Atomic and Nuclear Spectroscopy, Archeometry, University of Liege-Belgium, Bat. B15 Sart Tilman, 4000, Liège 1, Belgium

    C. J. S. Guembou

  5. Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box AE1, Accra, Ghana

    E. O. Darko

Authors
  1. E. J. M. Nguelem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. M. Ndontchueng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. O. Motapon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. J. S. Guembou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. E. O. Darko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. J. M. Nguelem.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Nguelem, E.J.M., Ndontchueng, M.M., Motapon, O. et al. Radiological monitoring and statistical approach of primordial and anthropogenic radionuclides in surface soil of Mami-water site in the Western Cameroon. Environ Earth Sci 76, 612 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6951-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6951-8

Keywords

  • BEGe6350 detector
  • Gamma radiation
  • Surface soil
  • Bauxite deposit
  • Radiological impact
  • Statistical analysis