Natural occurring radiation dose and radiological risk assessment around Monoun Lake and surrounding localities in the West region of Cameroon

The main objective of this study was to assess the natural radiation dose and radiological risk around Lake Monoun and some surrounding localities. A total of 28 soil samples were analyzed using gamma-ray spectrometry based on a High-Purity Germanium detector. The activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides (²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K) and the corresponding health hazard risks were determined. The average value of air absorbed dose rate and the total excess lifetime cancer risk were found to be 68.32 nGyh⁻¹ and 1.86 × 10^–3. These recorded average values were above the world average value reported by UNSCEAR 2000. RESRAD-OFFSITE computer code was used to evaluate the long-term radiological risk from the study area. The RESRAD simulation data of excess cancer risk was above the world limit of 1.45 × 10^–3 until 100 years. The obtained results showed insight into public exposure and could be used as baseline data for future investigations.