Radon mapping, correlation study of radium, seasonal indoor radon and radon exhalation levels in communities around Ghana atomic energy commission

Abstract

Radon mapping and seasonal radon studies have been carried out within the communities around the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), using ArcMap geostatistical interpolation tool. The correlation analysis was done using Pearson’s correlation tools. Average seasonal indoor radon variations for CR (rainy) and CD (dry) with mean values ranging from 28.9 to 177.2 Bq/m3 (78.1 ± 38.7 Bq/m3 ) and 24.4–125.5 Bq/m3 (69.9 ± 24.2 Bq/m3 ). Average seasonal soil radon exhalation for ER (rainy) and ED (dry) with mean values ranging from 39.6 to 100.3 (68.9 ± 24.2 μBq/m2 h) and 55.2 to 111.9 (77.1 ± 18.7 μBq/m2 h). Radium concentrations ranged from 8.1 to 42.2 Bq/kg (21.3 ± 9.9 Bq/kg). Annual effective dose and resultant effective dose to lungs were found to be 0.9 to 2.9 (1.9 ± 0.8 mSv/yr), 2.1 to 9.2 (4.6 mSv/yr). The study recorded the highest and lowest positive correlation coefficient was found in the study with higher and lower coefficient values of 0.81 and 0.47 recorded in radium concentration with radon exhalation and indoor radon concentration within the dry season respectively. Pearson correlation result recorded values 0.81 and 0.47 as the highest and lowest positive coefficient values for the radium concentration correlation between radon exhalation and indoor radon concentration. One directional principal component was observed in radium concentration, seasonal radon exhalation, and indoor radon concentration. Two clusters originated from radium and seasonal radon concentrations present in dwellings as well as soils. Pearson’s correlation results were in agreed with the principal component and cluster factor analysis. The study obtained the highest and lowest indoor radon concentrations with radon exhalation in rainy and dry seasons. Radium concentration was found to have a considerable effect on indoor radon and radon exhalation in dwellings and soils.