Background Radiation Survey at Major Dumpsites in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Urban Farm DB summary

A study measured background radiation at the two major dumpsites in Freetown, Sierra Leone — Kingtom and Granville Brooke — which are also used for urban agriculture and where youths scavenge scrap metals and plastics daily. Using a portable Radiagem survey meter and GPS, researchers took 10 in-situ dose-rate measurements at each site. The mean equivalent dose rate was 0.8 mSv/year at Kingtom and 1.1 mSv/year at Granville Brooke; Kingtom slightly exceeded the UNSCEAR permissible limit but stayed below the ICRP limit, while Granville Brooke exceeded both the UNSCEAR and ICRP limits. The study concludes both dumpsites could become unsafe in the near future from cumulative radiation exposure for workers, scavengers and other exposed individuals.