Evaluation of Cancer Risks Associated with Radon Concentration Measured in the Science Faculty Building Complex Basement of a Tertiary Institution in South West, Nigeria

Abstract

In this study, radon concentration was measured with an active detector (RAD 7) in the Science Faculty building complex basement of a tertiary institution in South West (SW), Nigeria. The attendant risk descriptors were determined with the help of mathematical models. The range of mean detectable radon concentration in the basement is 26.5 ±12.3 – 242 ± 50.7 Bq m-3 and the mean for all the rooms examined is 61.74 ± 58.48 Bq m-3. The overall mean is less than the global mean of 100 Bq m-3. The mean annual dose rate is found to be 0.97 ± 0.92 mSv y-1. The mean annual effective doses for different subjects examined are 0.412 ± 0.391 mSv y-1 (worker), 0.0221 ± 0.0209 mSv y-1 (student in lab session), 0.515 ± 0.488 mSv y-1 (student who lives in the hostel) and 2.149 ± 2.036 mSv y-1 (home owner). Students and workers in the basement are not likely to develop serious health effects, however, if the basement is used as a living room, the radon concentration in Room I-R might lead to health effects. The range of calculated excess life cancer risks (ELCRs) are (0.64-5.82) x 10-3 and (1.16 -10.58) x 10-3 for student and homeowner respectively. The mean values for the two subjects examined fall below the maximum risk of 3.5 x 10-3.

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“…These mean radon levels are regarded as safe when compared to the action levels set by ICRP for work places, the upper reference level of 1000 Bq/m3 (ICRP, 2014). Olowookere, et al [33] conducted radon study and measured its quantities using an active detector in the basement of a complex of buildings housing the Science faculty of a higher institution in south western Nigeria. Using the mathematical models and Rad-7 detector, the average for all the buildings studied was 61.74 and 58.48.…”

Indoor radon concentration levels in some selected offices at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria and its attendant annual effective dose

“…Few literatures on radon levels in buildings are available in developing countries. However, in Nigeria only radon concentration levels in buildings from south-western part of the country were reported (Oni et al, 2012;Okeji et al, 2013;Ademola et al, 2015;Afolabi et al, 2015;Asere and Ajayi 2017;Obed et al, 2018;Sokari, 2018;Usikalu et al, 2018;Akabuogu et al, 2019;Chenko et al, 2019;Avwiri et al, 2020;Oladapo et al, 2020;Olaoye et al, 2020;Ndubisi et al, 2021;Asere et al, 2022;Olowookere et al, 2022). Hence, this work investigates the radon concentration levels in IBB University buildings and its effect on the occupants.…”