Determination of Radon Level in Residentials Around a Mine Site and Exposure Risk of Population in Burkina Faso

Residential radon concentrations vary widely by geographic area. The higher concentration of radon is expected globally in the grounds where uranium, radium and thoron are present. Mining processes like drilling and blasting increase radon release. So the main consequence of exposure to high amount of radon are cancers of respiratory system. Radon enters the human organism mainly through inhaled atmospheric air mainly in houses. Therefore, the concentrations of radon were measured in twenty un (21) houses around the gold mine site of Bissa Golg in the Kuilsé region of Bukina Faso, using the radiation detector PCE-RD 75. Also dose exposure and cancer risk were evaluated. The results showed that activity concentrations of indoor radon in the area ranged between 11.47 to 100.27 Bq/m 3 . The annual effective doses corresponding to the activity concentrations ranged between 0.69-6.07 mSv with a mean value of 2.97 mSv. This average value of the annual effective dose of radon is lower than the ICRP recommended limit with mitigation required above 10 mSv/yr. The average cancer risk index is 1.04. These results indicate that there is no need remedial action about radon exposure for the population around the studied site.