A preliminary study of natural radioactivity ingestion from cassava grown and consumed by inhabitants around a cement production facility in the Volta region, Ghana

Research in the surroundings of industrial facilities on environmental radiation protection and determination of contamination of natural radionuclides in soil and crops samples are of very great importance for the protection of human health. In this study, gamma spectroscopic system was used to measure ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in soil and cassava samples collected from different farms in the north, north-east and east directions from the Diamond Cement Factory. With the exception of ⁴⁰K which is far lower, the ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th activity concentration in the soil were adjudged comparable to global average. On the otherhand, the concentrations in the cassava samples were found to be higher than what was observed in two high radiation areas under similar studies in Nigeria. In the evaluation of radionuclide uptake by the cassava, the concentration ratio revealed higher values for ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th when compared with data compiled by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Measurement results together with cassava consumption rates were used to estimate total annual effective dose of the natural radionuclides due to consumption by inhabitants surrounding the cement facility. It was observed that an annual effective dose of 1.23mSv/y obtained for the study is above the annual dose limit set by the International Convention for Radiological Protection (ICRP) for the general public, indicating a human health risk for the cassava consuming population in the study area. The study recommended further studies by food regulatory authorities and also suggests the education of the cassava consuming public on best practices to safeguard their health.