Radiological Hazards in Soil from the Bauxite Deposits Sites in Dschang Region of Cameroon

This work evaluates the radiological health risk from NORM exposure in bauxite deposition sites of West Region in Cameroon. In-situ and laboratory measurements were performed using dose rate survey meter and Broad Energy Germanium (BEGe) detector. Radiometric analysis of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the soil samples from Fongo-Tongo and Mini-Matap were done with average activity concentration of 108.91 Bq/kg, 117.79 Bq/kg and 143.07 Bq/kg and, 113.15Bq/kg, 196.14 Bq/kg and zero were determined respectively. In-situ measurement of dose rate at 1 m above the ground and the annual effective dose values due to 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in 5 cm soil layer were determined using conversion factors by UNSCEAR. The average external hazard indexes in samples from Fongo-Tongo were 0.78 and 1.06 while the internal hazard indexes in samples from Mini-Matap were 1.07 and 1.37. Comparing these values with the worldwide values set by UNSCEAR we realized that avoidance of high exposure from gamma radiation due to NORM to the populace should be of concern.