Risk Assessment of Exposure to Natural Radiation in Soil Using RESRAD-ONSITE and RESRAD-BIOTA in the Cobalt-Nickel Bearing Areas of Lomié in Eastern Cameroon

Nkamouna-Kongo is a cobalt–nickel deposit located in Lomié, Eastern Cameroon. Mining creates radiation exposure pathways that must be considered risk management scenarios. RESRAD-ONSITE and RESRAD-BIOTA, developed by the US DOE, assess contaminated sites deriving cleanup criteria estimating dose associated with residual radioactive materials using site-specific parameters. This paper evaluated biota health from to naturally occurring radionuclides. The activity of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K was determined γ-spectrometry. internal doses were 2.13 × 10−07, 1.42 10−06, 8.38 10−05 Gy d−1 for animals 2.38 2.04 9.07 plants. maximum total 0.7234 mSv yr−1 obtained at t = 1 year. external contribution year all nuclides summed component 0.4 yr−1, above background limit 2.5 10−01 yr−1. A cancer 1.36 10−03 observed It also shown RESRAD calculations morbidity risks plant ingestion, radon (independent water), gamma greater than those other pathways. high calculated 226Ra relative 232Th makes it primary human concern study area. use m cover thickness would remediate site on order 10−5 period 0 100 years. values these are below DOE recommended limits.