Radiological hazard associated with gamma radiation and possible potential health impacts on the people of Manipur Valley, India

A comprehensive study on natural background gamma radiation was conducted for the geologically sensitive Manipur Valley of the northeastern Indian region. The gamma radiation dose ranged between 65 and 170 nSv/h (average107.61 ± 17.97 nSv/h), with annual effective dose varying between 0.0797 and 0.2085 mSv/year (average of 0.132 mSv/year), exceeding the global average of 0.07 mSv/year but within the International Commission on Radiological Protection limit of 1 mSv/year. The assessment highlighted that the excess lifetime cancer risk ranged from 0.299 to 0.782 (average 0.495), indicating 63% of locations exceeded the world average of 0.29 but remained below the recommended limit of 1.45. Geospatially interpolated maps identify vulnerable zones regarding gamma radiation exposure and potential health risks associated with the region’s diverse geological and soil compositions. This study can serve as an essential input for future researchers, concerned stakeholders, and policymakers to ensure public health safety and mitigate long-term health risks associated with elevated gamma radiation.