Masters student - Linet -Nyamweya - Kenya
MSc | University of Nairobi
2023 – 2025
Research Project
Advancing the frontier of quantum error correction and fault-tolerant quantum computing.
Supervisor:
Dr. Geoffrey O. Okeng’o – University of Nairobi
Soapstone quarrying and carving at Tabaka is a significant economic enterprise activity. However, quarrying activities can result in enhanced radioactivity leading to adverse radiological health effects, which miners and dwellers around the quarries are not aware of. To bridge this gap, 222Rn concentration levels were assessed in five (5) soapstone quarries using AlphaE radon monitors. Two radon monitors were used concurrently, and six sampling locations were randomly selected in each quarry.
The radon monitors were placed 1.0–1.5m above the ground for eight (8) working hours at each sampling location. After 1 month, the radon monitors were retrieved and the data were downloaded for analysis. The findings show that 93.7% of the sampling locations reported 222Rn concentration values below 200 Bq/m3. The average LCC in the quarries varied from 6.56 to 30.45, with an average mean of 14.26±2.09 cases per million people per year. These LCC values were below the range recommended by ICRP. However, the average ELCR (×10-3) values varied from 0.55 to 2.56 (×10-3). The ELCR values exceeded the global average of 0.29×10-3 by a factory of 2-9. Overall, the results indicate that working in Tabaka soapstone quar-ries does not pose any immediate radiological health risks. However, the probability of developing cancer in the quarry environment is extremely high over a lifetime.