“ Dosimeters installed in my home enabled researchers to warn me that radon concentrations are high and that it is important to air out my home properly to avoid radonrelated illnesses . Today , I air my house every morning and it has become part of my daily routine ,” says Hamadou , who is the chief of a local district .
In a first of a kind pilot study in Africa , researchers at Cameroon ’ s Institute of Geological and Mining Research surveyed 3,000 dwellings across the country , including in areas that contain uranium deposits , where radon is often present at high levels . Over 2 per cent of the homes surveyed had radon concentrations above the upper IAEA recommended level of 300 Bq / m 3 , and a whopping 49 per cent were above the more conservative level recommended by WHO of 100 Bq / m 3 . Based on the data gathered – to be published in an article currently in press in the Journal of Radiation Protection and Research – the average radon level in Cameroon is 107 Bq / m 3 , versus the global average of just 40 Bq / m 3 .
“ Our geology predetermines Cameroon for higher natural concentrations of radon , particularly in the north , south and west of the country , which are highly populated areas ,” said Saidou , Chief of the institute ’ s Research Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology . The research was carried out with financial and technical support of the IAEA , along with other partners , including radiation protection institutes in India , Japan and Switzerland , which donated track detectors for measuring indoor radon levels .
Researchers at Cameroon ’ s Institute of Geological and Mining Research preparing a soil sample for test of radon concentration . ( Photo : M . Gaspar / IAEA )
Radon accounts for around half of all human exposure to radiation from different sources , and inhalation increases the risk of developing lung cancer . Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers . Outdoors radon quickly dilutes to very low concentrations and poses no harm . On the other hand , even moderate concentrations of indoor radon pose health risks due to prolonged exposure . Chemical elements that decay into radon may be present in ground or soil , water and construction materials . See this Nuclear Explained article for more on radon .