Radiation Protection Knowledge and Awareness of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials among Underground Goldmine Workers in Ghana

Abstract

The level of knowledge and awareness of naturally occurring radioactive materials and indoor radon among underground goldmine workers were measured using a well-structured closed ended five-point likert scale questionnaire using a one sample T test for the analysis. There was a significant relationship between the awareness and knowledge of NORM and radon gas among the underground workers apart from the awareness and knowledge of the increased risk of cancer due to exposure of radon for workers who smoke. The level of awareness and knowledge is positively correlated with the level of education of respondents and negatively correlated to the years of service and age of respondents, but the ANOVA table indicates a statistical significance between the demographic data and the awareness and knowledge of radon gas and NORM in their working environment with an adjusted R² of 46.1%.

Keywords: NORM, Indoor radon, correlation, awareness, knowledge.

DOI: 10.7176/IKM/13-3-04

Publication date:April 30^th 2023