According to the scientists, by instituting remedial measures to check the high levels of the gas, which is harmful to human health, building and living around such radon-prone regions could be safe.
They said by getting scientists to measure the extent of radon gas availability, they could advise developers on how best a building could be built to avoid the harmful effect of the gas.
In June this year, a Daily Graphic report quoted the National Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Kofi Portuphy, as cautioning that a seemingly harmless gas that emitted from the ground might be slowly and negatively affecting the health of people who live at Dunkonaa and its environs in the Ga-South municipality in the Greater Accra Region.
The fume, which is colourless, odourless and tasteless, is known to be a major cause of respiratory infections, blood poisoning and lung cancer in areas where it is highly concentrated.
In 2000, studies conducted by a team of scientists, including scientists from the GAEC, indicated that the gas coming out of the Dunkonaa area was highly concentrated.
Briefing the Daily Graphic at a GAEC laboratory where some studies had been conducted on radon gas in Ghana, the two Principal Scientific officers of the commission, Dr F. G. Offosu and Mr Osborne C. Oppong, stated that their department had conducted research at some radon gas-prone areas in Accra, including Dunkonaa and its environs.
Effect on Human Cells
With less concentration of the gas, the human cells are affected through breathing but the cells repair themselves without any harmful effect on the individual. However, where the gas is concentrated, destroyed cells cannot repair themselves, leading to serious illness. The effect of inhaling radon gas is cumulative, meaning it takes a longer period in harming humans.
Room levels and remedial actions
First Level: When the measured radon is 150 B per metre cube, remedial action could be taken to reduce the effect drastically and make the area conducive for human habitation. With this, one can stay in a house and take remedial measures which include allowing adequate ventilation in the room.
Second Level: Where the level is 400 B per metre cube (m3). This level calls for immediate action. With this, people must leave in the area and buildings immediately to allow experts to advise them on the type of remedial actions to take.
About Dorkunaa
Mr Oppong said his outfit had been undertaking some work in the area and that with remedial steps such as the creation of adequate ventilation for the rooms and applying proper concrete casting on all floors, preferably with tiles, living in such areas would be safe.
Lack of logistics
Although GAEC is endowed with world renowned scientists, it lacks basic scientific apparatus and laboratories to undertake constant measurement of radon emissions, which are prevalent in some parts of the country.
The commission does not have resources to purchase basic Alpha Tracks detectors which are used to collect samples from the fields to place under microscopes to determine the levels of radon emissions.
A roll of detector costs $1000.
National action
With the high prevalent rate of radon gas in most parts of the country, Ghana must have a map indicating areas that have radon gas, their levels and what prevails at every part of the country.
Creation
According to the GAEC scientists, radon gas emissions were discovered millions of years ago from decayed uranium in the soils. During the decaying process, the decomposed uranium in the soil produces the radon gas. It is colourless, odourless and inert, that is it does not react with anything in the atmosphere.
“Ventilation is a crucial factor. Always cast floor concretes at a go and not in bits and pieces”, Mr Oppong stated.
It is dangerous to undertake casting of floors in bits and pieces because they tend to create holes in the floors.
Anecdotes
According to Mr Oppong, as part of the project work for some science students pursuing their Master’s programmes, they were asked to measure the radon gas in some new estates in the Greater Accra Region.
He said the students, with the permission of the wife of the owners of one of the estates, placed a radon measuring gadget in one of the rooms and one outside. He said when the owner of the house saw the machine, he accused the scientists of putting juju in his room to kill him.
He said not even the persistent explanation from the scientists and other members of the household could calm him down. He destroyed the machine that was placed indoors although the outdoor machine indicated no dangerous levels of radon gas.
The second story was that some students studying at the commission needed to use the radon machine for their practical work but due to lack of a means of transport, they decided to board the staff bus to town.
He said the group decided to place the radon gas measuring machine in a thatched house at Dome in Accra which had very little ventilation. Although the occupant of the thatched building died mysteriously, they could not attribute his death to the unacceptable high levels of radon gas measurement taken at the place.
By Donald Ato Dapatem/Daily Graphic/Ghana
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