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Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Dosimetry for Cell Irradiation using Orthovoltage 40-300 kV X-Ray Facilities
Published on: February 20, 2021
HUMAN EXPOSURE TO BACKGROUND RADIATION IN ORTUM, KENYA
F O Wanjala1, N O Hashim1, D Otwoma2
1Kenyatta University, Physics Department, P. O. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Abstract:
The activity concentration of radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K in soil and the absorbed dose rate (ADRA) at 1 m above the ground in Ortum was determined. The activity concentration in soils ranged from 33 to 85, 20 to 67 and 148-1019 Bq kg-1, respectively with an average of 40 ± 1.43, 56 ± 1.46 and 425 ± 19.24 Bq kg-1, respectively. The activity concentration of 232Th and 238U was found to reduce with increasing depth while that of 40K increased with increasing depth. The average activity concentration in soil was higher than the world average values. The average ADRA in air at 1 m above the ground was found to be 112 ± 29.6 nGy h-1. The soil and rocks in Ortum are recommended for use because the activity concentration of the terrestrial radionuclides is lower than the recommended threshold values.
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