Environmental Soil and Indoor Radon Measurement and Assessment of its Radiological Risk in Boundiali, Côte d’Ivoire

Agba Dabo Salif Ignace^1, , Gogon Bogbe Douo Huberson², Anouan Koutoua Joseph², Koua Aka Antonin², Mounir Aïtziane³ and Zohra Lounis Mokrani³

¹Department of Fundamental and Applied Science, University Nangui Abrogoua (UNA), 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

²Department of Science of Matter Structures and Technology, University Felix Houphouet Boigny (UFHB), 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

³Department of Dosimetry and Ionizing Radiation, Algiers Nuclear Research Centre (CRNA), 02 Frantz Fanon BP 399 Algiers, Algiers, Algeria

Cite this paper:
Agba Dabo Salif Ignace, Gogon Bogbe Douo Huberson, Anouan Koutoua Joseph, Koua Aka Antonin, Mounir Aïtziane and Zohra Lounis Mokrani. Environmental Soil and Indoor Radon Measurement and Assessment of its Radiological Risk in Boundiali, Côte d’Ivoire. American Journal of Environmental Protection. 2026; 14(1):8-15. doi: 10.12691/env-14-1-2

Abstract

Environmental radon can be a public health concern. This is why it is crucial to know its level and to implement its monitoring. In this survey, integrated radon measurements were performed using Solid State Nuclear Track Detector’s (SSNTD) technique particularly with the LR 115 passive detector throughout the city of Boundiali. The annual soil radon concentrations obtained range from [(7± 3) to (45 ± 22)] kBq/m³ with an average of (21 ± 9) kBq/m³. In dwellings, the measured annual concentrations of this gas range from [(109 ± 49) to (741 ± 333)] Bq/m³ with an average of (328 ± 149) Bq/m³. The corresponding annual alpha effective doses received by the public range from [(3 ± 1) to (19 ± 9)] mSv with an average of (8 ± 4) mSv. Several concentrations and doses exceed the acceptable limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Commission on radiological Protection (ICRP). Since radon is known as a human lung carcinogen, annual Excess Lung Cancer Risk (ELCR) per million persons for the population of this city was estimated. The average values are found between 197-623 and 262-722 using the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) models respectively. The results obtained will help raise awareness among the population and advise them. These results will contribute to creating the national radon map. And they will also assist public authorities in developing a policy to mitigate radon risk in Côte d’Ivoire.

Keywords:
LR 115 detector Radon concentration Alpha effective dose ELCR Boundiali

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