Assessment of Indoor Radon Concentration in Residential Buildings at Ouagadougou and Estimation of the Annual Effective Dose

The second most important cause of lung cancer after smoking is a radon gas. Thus, the determination of indoor radon concentrations in residential buildings is an important public health concern. The purpose of this research was to measure the concentration of radon gas in residential homes in the city of Ouagadougou and evaluate the annual effective dose, effective dose equivalent and the relative risk of lung cancer. The present study used the digital radon detector air things of cranium to determine the concentration of radon in twenty one homes at Ouagadougou. The digital radon detector air Things of corentium was placed in each residential building for a minimum period of one week and the concentration values are read every 24 hours. The values recorded are the short term average and the long term average. This study showed that the average radon concentration was 26.90±2.58 Bq/m3 in residential homes at Ouagadougou. The average radon effective dose rate was calculated as 0.68 mSv per year and the average effective dose equivalent of 1.63 mSv per year. The average relative risk of lung cancer (RRLC) due to indoor exposure was 1.02. The concentration of radon in one house was found to be greater than 100 Bq/m3, which is above the level allowed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The radon Effective Dose Equivalent in 14.3% of homes were slightly larger than the limit of the recommended action level (3-10 mSv per year) as reported by the ICRP-1993. It seems necessary to increase the public’s awareness of this issue and to take action to reduce radon in homes when the concentrations are above.