ASSESSMENT OF RADIUM ACTIVITY CONCENTRATION AND RADON EXHALATION RATES IN IBERIAN PENINSULA BUILDING MATERIALS

A radon exhalation study for building materials was carried out by closed accumulator technique using plastic track detector LR-115 type-II, taking into account the effect of back diffusin. The back diffusion of radon into the materials causes an underestimate of free exhalation rates. The results showed that radon exhalation rates of soil, sand, brick powder, and crasher were found to be high as compared to rice husk ash, wall putty, and plaster of Paris. The radon exhalation rates from building materials varied from 0.45 ? 0.07 mBq/kgh to 1.55 ? 0.2 mBq/kgh and 3.4 ? 0.7 mBq/m2h to 28.6 ? 3.8 mBq/m2h as measured without considering back diffusion. The radon exhalation rates of building materials oblivious of back diffusion varied from 4.3 ? 0.8 mBq/m2h to 44.1 ? 5.9 mBq/m2h. The radon exhalation rates from building materials can be used for estimation of radon wall flux and indoor radon concentration. Thus, it is necessary to make correction in the measured exhalation rates by back diffusion.

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Natural Radioactivity and Radon Exhalation from Building Materials in Underground Parking Lots

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11167475 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (16) ◽

pp. 7475

Author(s):

Dainius Jasaitis ◽

Milda Pečiulienė

Keyword(s):

Dose Rate ◽

Building Materials ◽

Activity Concentration ◽

Gamma Spectroscopy ◽

Natural Radionuclides ◽

Equivalent Dose ◽

Strong Positive Correlation ◽

Radon Exhalation ◽

Parking Lots ◽

Equivalent Dose Rate

The change of natural ionizing radiation and the radon exhalation rates from typical building materials in underground parking lots are presented in the article. The activity concentration of natural radionuclides 232Th, 226Ra, and 40K in six important types of construction materials, which are mostly used in Lithuania, were analyzed using high-resolution gamma spectroscopy. The highest values were found in concrete and ferroconcrete samples: 226Ra 44 and 90 Bq kg−1; 232Th 29 and 34 Bq kg−1; 40K 581 and 603 Bq kg−1. A strong positive correlation (0.88) was observed between radium activity concentration and radon concentration. The activity indexes (Iα and Iγ) and radium equivalent activity (Req) evaluating the suitability of materials for such constructions from the view of radiation safety were determined. The average values of the calculated absorbed dose rate in samples ranged from 18.24 nGy h−1 in the sand to 87.26 nGy h−1 in ferroconcrete. The calculated annual effective dose was below the limit of 1.0 mSv y−1. The values of the external and internal hazards index (Hex and Hin) were all below unity, and the values of Iγ and Iα were below the recommended levels of 0.5 and 1. Dosimetric analysis of underground parking lots was carried out. It was determined that the external equivalent dose rate caused by the 222Rn progeny radiation in the underground car parking lots varies from 17 to 30% of the total equivalent dose rate.

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Development of a couple of methods for measuring radon exhalation from building materials commonly used in the Iberian Peninsula

Radiation Protection Dosimetry ◽

10.1093/rpd/ncu063 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 160 (1-3) ◽

pp. 177-180 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

C. Miro ◽

E. Andrade ◽

M. Reis ◽

M. J. Madruga

Keyword(s):

Iberian Peninsula ◽

Building Materials ◽

Radon Exhalation

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