Radon gas mapping for environmental assessment in Dessie, Ethiopia
摘要
The geological formations of Dessie town contain rocks that release radon gas, the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. To date, there have been no investigations of geology-based radon health risks in Dessie town. The main objective of this study was to evaluate and map the temporal and spatial distribution of radon gas concentrations within Dessie town. The evaluation and mapping were done using advanced geological and geospatial techniques, employing Quantum Geographic Information Systems (QGIS) software to integrate the research area’s weather conditions and geological data using shape files for the study area and masking with its geological map. Geological analysis helps to know whether the geological formation of Dessie town is composed of basaltic rocks, as shown on the geological map of Dessie town, which was obtained from the Ethiopian Geological Institute. Based on these geological formations and geospatial analysis, radon gas activity concentrations were estimated in two different ranges: from 3