%0 Journal Article
%T Environmental Radiation Exposure and Lifetime Cancer Risk at Lumoru Dumpsite, Western Kenya
%A Bilha Wanjala
%A Robert Wanjala Nyukuri
%A Horace Eyinda Kibe
%A John W. Makokha
%J Open Access Library Journal
%V 12
%N 11
%P 1-12
%@ 2333-9721
%D 2025
%I Open Access Library
%R 10.4236/oalib.1114461
%X This study quantified the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides <sup>238</sup>U, <sup>232</sup>Th, and <sup>40</sup>K in soils from the Lumoru Dumpsite, Bungoma County, Kenya, using a NaI (Tl) gamma spectrometer. The mean concentrations were 7 ¡À 0.4 Bq/kg for <sup>238</sup>U, 57 ¡À 2.0 Bq/kg for<sup> 232</sup>Th, and 25 ¡À 1.3 Bq/kg for <sup>40</sup>K. From these values, the absorbed dose rate was estimated at 39 ¡À 3.4 nGy/h, the outdoor annual effective dose equivalent at 0.09 ¡À 0.01 mSv/y, and the radium equivalent activity at 91 ¡À 3.4 Bq/kg. The hazard indices (H<sub>ex</sub> = 0.25 ¡À 0.01; H<sub>in</sub> = 0.28 ¡À 0.01) were all within international safety limits, while the mean excess lifetime cancer risk was 0.30 ¡À 0.03 ¡Á 10<sup>&#8722;3</sup>. Compared with similar dumpsites in Kenya and across Africa, Lumoru exhibited lower activity concentrations and radiological risks than Machinjoni, Nigerian, and Ukrainian landfills, though its risks remain comparable to food-chain pathways in Bungoma. These findings establish Lumoru as a moderately impacted site and provide a critical baseline for monitoring cumulative exposures from environmental and household sources in Western Kenya.<br />
%K Natural Radionuclides
%K <sup>238</sup>U
%K <sup>232</sup>Th
%K <sup>40</sup>K
%K Annual Effective Dose
%K Hazard Indices
%K Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk
%K Lumoru Dumpsite
%K Bungoma
%K Kenya
%U http://www.oalib.com/paper/6877969