RADIATION EXPOSURE FROM NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES IN BUILDING MATERIALS

2018 ◽  
Vol 185 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
M J Madruga ◽  
C Miró ◽  
M Reis ◽  
L Silva
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Radium Equivalent Activity ◽  
Dose Rates ◽  
Radium Equivalent ◽  
Radiological Health ◽  
Hazard Parameters

Abstract Building materials from Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain) were collected and analysed for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K using HPGe gamma-ray spectrometers. The results show that the highest mean value of 226Ra and 232Th activities are 2168 and 390 Bq kg−1, respectively, measured in zircon. For 40K, this value is 1290 Bq kg−1, measured in granite. The mean concentrations of the three radionuclides in the different building materials, excluding the zircon and the industrial by-products (ashes, gypsum and phosphogypsum), are 62, 31 and 519 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. The radiological health hazard parameters: radium equivalent activity (Raeq), activity concentration index (I) absorbed and effective dose rates, associated with these radionuclides, were evaluated. These values are within the EU recommended limits in building materials, except for same samples of aggregates, granites, ceramics, phosphogypsum and zircon. This study will contribute for the worldwide data pooling on the radioactivity of the building materials.

The Radioactivity Levels and Safety Assessment of Building Materials in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China

2011 ◽  
Vol 243-249 ◽  
pp. 6913-6918
Author(s):  
Jian Lu ◽  
Hao Yang ◽  
Ming Li Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Jiangsu Province ◽  
Internal Exposure ◽  
External Exposure ◽  
Exposure Index ◽  
Radium Equivalent Activity ◽  
Radium Equivalent ◽  
Radioactivity Levels

In order to invetigate the natural radioactivity levels of typical building materials in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province,China, the specific activities of natural radionuclides (226Ra,232Th and40K) in samples of building materials were measured by ORTEC HPGe gamma ray spectrometer. And the radium equivalent activity, the internal and external exposure index, and relative annual effective dose equivalents were also claculated. The average concentrations of all the samples ranged from 64 to 318.79 Bq·kg-1, 11.35 to 144.83 Bq·kg-1and 92.57 to 951.68 Bq·kg-1for226Ra,232Th and40K, respectively. Their average values were in the ranges: 0.33-1.50 for the internal exposure index (Ira); 0.29-1.51 for the external exposure index (Ir); 0.34-1.74 mSv·a-1 for HEextand 0.36-1.76 mSv·a-1for HEint. The average radium equivalent activity varied from 106.49 to 541.77 Bq·kg-1. According to the standard, most samples were in a lower radioactivity level expect a few of artificial tiles. But, we must perfect detection and management system of many materials to ensure radiation safety and physical health.

scholarly journals Natural radioactivity and radiological risks of common building materials used in Semnan Province dwellings, Iran

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morteza Imani ◽  
Mohammademad Adelikhah ◽  
Amin Shahrokhi ◽  
Ghazaleh Azimpour ◽  
Ali Yadollahi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Radiation Risk ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
Radiological Health ◽  
Hazard Parameters ◽  
Semnan Province

AbstractImpact assessment of building materials is a focused topic in the field of radioecology. A radiological survey has conducted to monitor radioactivity of most common building materials in Semnan Province, Iran, and assess the radiation risk. Activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were measured in 29 samples including nine commonly used building materials that were collected from local suppliers and manufacturers, using a high purity germanium gamma-ray detector. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K varied from 6.7±1 to 43.6±9, 5.9±1 to 60±11, and 28.5±3 to 1085±113 Bq kg−1 with averages of 26.8±5, 22.7±4, and 322.4±4 Bq kg−1, respectively. By applying multivariate statistical approach (Pearson correlation, cluster, and principal component analyses (PCA)), the radiological health hazard parameters were analyzed to obtain similarities and correlations between the various samples. The Pearson correlation showed that the 226Ra distribution in the samples is controlled by changing the 232Th concentration. The variance of 95.58% obtained from PCA resulted that the main radiological health hazard parameters exist due to the concentration of 226Ra and 232Th. The resulting dendrogram of cluster analysis also shows a well coincidence with the correlation analysis.

scholarly journals Gamma Ray Spectrometric Analysis of Sand Samples from Selected Beaches along Kenyan Coastline

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Willis Otieno Gor Odongo ◽  
Nadir Hashim ◽  
Margaret Wairimu Chege
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Hazard Index ◽  
Spectrometric Analysis ◽  
Dose Rates ◽  
Gamma Ray Spectrometer ◽  
Activity Concentrations ◽  
Radium Equivalent ◽  
Average Activity ◽  
Radiological Health

In this study, the activity concentration levels of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in sand samples collected from Shanzu, Nyali, Kenyatta, Tiwi, Shelly, and Diani beaches selected along the Kenyan coastline were determined using a gamma ray spectrometer with a NaI(Tl) detector. The average activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in sand samples were analyzed as 87 ± 4, 98 ± 4, and 1254 ± 62 Bq/kg, respectively. Also, radium equivalent (Raeq) activity and internal (Hin) and external (Hex) hazard index were calculated to assess the radiological hazards associated with the use of sand samples as building materials. The average values of Raeq, Hin, and Hex were found as 327 ± 16 Bq/kg, 0.98, and 0.72, respectively. The average values of outdoor and indoor annual effective dose rates were estimated as of 0.23 and 0.63 mSv/y, respectively, which are below maximum recommended limit of 1 mSv/y. Generally, these results indicate no significant radiological health hazards for the studied beaches.

ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY LEVELS AND RADIOLOGICAL HAZARDS IN BUILDING MATERIALS

2020 ◽  
Vol 188 (3) ◽  
pp. 316-321
Author(s):  
Fei Tuo ◽  
Xuan Peng ◽  
Qiang Zhou ◽  
Jing Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Absorbed Dose ◽  
Gamma Ray Spectrometry ◽  
Absorbed Dose Rate ◽  
Radium Equivalent Activity ◽  
Radiological Hazards ◽  
Radium Equivalent ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Radioactivity Levels

Abstract Radioactivity of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were measured in a total of 92 samples, including eight commonly used types of building materials that were obtained from local manufacturers and suppliers in Beijing. Concentrations were determined using high-purity germanium gamma-ray spectrometry. The 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K activity concentrations in all samples varied from 10.1 to 661, 3.3 to 555 and 3.2 to 2945 Bq per kg with an average of 127.8, 114.8, and 701.5 Bq per kg, respectively. The potential radiological hazards were estimated by calculating the absorbed dose rate (D), radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external hazard (Hex), and internal hazard (Hin) indices. The investigated building materials were classified into different types according to the radioactivity levels. Results from this research will provide a reference for the acquisition, sales, and use of building materials. Attention should be paid to the use of coal cinder brick, ceramic, and granite in the construction of dwellings.

scholarly journals Elemental Analysis and Natural Radioactivity Levels of Clay by Gamma Ray Spectrometer and Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. R. Alharbi ◽  
A. El-Taher
Keyword(s):  
Elemental Analysis ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Radiation Hazard ◽  
Hazard Indices ◽  
Gamma Ray Spectrometer ◽  
Radium Equivalent ◽  
Effective Doses

Due to increased global demand for clay, the present work involves the use of INAA for elemental analysis and pollutants concentration in clay. The samples were collected from Aswan in South Egypt. The samples were irradiated using the thermal neutrons “at the TRIGA Mainz research reactor” and at a neutron flux “of 7 × 10 n/cm s”. Twenty-six elements quantitatively and qualitatively were specified for the first time upon studying the samples. The elements determined are U, Th, Ta, Hf, Lu, Eu, Ce, Ba, Sn, Nb, Rb, Zn, Co, Fe, Cr, Sc, Sm, La, Yb, As, Ga, K, Mn, Na, Ti, and Mg. The concentrations of natural radionuclides232Th,226Ra, and40K were also calculated. Based on these concentrations, to estimate the exposure risk for using clay as raw materials in building materials, the radiation hazard indices such as radium equivalent activities, effective doses rate, and the external hazard indices have been computed. The obtained results were compared with analogous studies carried out in other countries and with the UNSCEAR reports.

scholarly journals Determination of Activity Concentration of Natural Radionuclides and Radiation Hazards’ Assessment of Building Materials in High Background Radiation Areas of Homa and Ruri, Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Willis Otieno Gor Odongo ◽  
Margaret Chege ◽  
Nadir Hashim ◽  
Shinji Tokonami ◽  
Kranrod Chutima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Background Radiation ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
High Background ◽  
Dose Rates ◽  
Radium Equivalent ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The One

The areas around Homa and Ruri hills in Homa Bay County in Kenya are associated with high background radiation levels. The activity concentration of the natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) in earthen building materials used in the areas of Homa and Ruri hills has been measured using a NaI (Tl) detector in this work. The measured values of radioactivity concentrations are used to estimate the associated radiological risk. The earthen building material samples from Ruri registered relatively high 232Th concentration values averaging 1094 ± 55 Bq/kg, nearly three times those of the samples from Homa. 226Ra level was not significantly different in both regions with Homa reporting 129 ± 10 Bq/kg and Ruri 111 ± 6 Bq/kg. 40K was however higher in the samples from Homa by an approximate factor of 2 relative to those from Ruri where the activity concentration was 489 ± 24 Bq/kg. The radium equivalents for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the samples from Ruri were 111 ± 9, 1564 ± 125, and 38 ± 3 Bq/kg, while in Homa, the values were 129 ± 10, 570 ± 46, and 69 ± 5 Bq/kg, respectively. The calculated value of total radium equivalent in Ruri was 1713 ± 137 Bq/kg which was two times higher than that of Homa. 232Th contributed about 74% and 91% to the total radium equivalent in Homa and Ruri, respectively; thus, it was the one with the largest contribution to radiation exposure in both regions. The average indoor annual effective dose rates were 1.74 ± 0.14 and 3.78 ± 0.30 mSv/y in Homa and Ruri, respectively, both of which were above the recommended safety limit of 1 mSv/y.

STATISTICAL ESTIMATION OF RADIOLOGICAL HAZARDS FROM RADIONUCLIDE CONTENTS IN BUILDING MATERIALS

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
O O Adewoyin ◽  
M Omeje ◽  
E S Joel ◽  
O A Odetunmibi
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Estimation ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Gamma Ray Spectrometry ◽  
Radium Equivalent Activity ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Radiological Hazards ◽  
Radium Equivalent ◽  
Safe Limit

Abstract Thirteen (13) types of building tiles and Sharp sand commonly used for building purposes were collected for their radionuclide contents analysis using gamma ray spectrometry. The average value of the Radium equivalent activity is 208.81 Bq/kg for all samples considered was found to be lower than the recommended safe limit of 370 Bq/kg. Similarly, both external and internal hazard indices (Hex and Hin) were noted to have mean values of 0.57 and 0.73, respectively, which were lower than the recommended safe standard of 1. More so, the average absorbed gamma dose rate was observed to be 94.31 nGy/h, much higher than the recommended safe limit of 59 nGy/h.

DISTRIBUTIONS OF INDOOR GAMMA DOSE RATES IN RELATION TO GAMMA-RAY EMISSIONS FROM BUILDING MATERIALS: CASE STUDY OF HIGH-RISE CONCRETE BUILDING IN FUKUSHIMA

2018 ◽  
Vol 184 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasutaka Omori ◽  
Takuma Ishikawa ◽  
Atsuyuki Sorimachi ◽  
Tetsuo Ishikawa
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Gamma Dose ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Dose Rates ◽  
High Rise ◽  
Gamma Dose Rates ◽  
Floor Slabs ◽  
Concrete Building

Abstract The spatial distribution of ambient gamma dose rates in a high-rise steel-reinforced concrete building in Fukushima, Japan, was examined relative to the gamma-ray emissions from building materials and radionuclides derived from the 2011 nuclear accident. The results revealed the minor role of accident-derived radionuclides in ambient gamma dose rates ~7 y after the accident. The ambient gamma dose rates were higher in the upper floors because of gamma-ray emissions from natural radionuclides in the floor slabs. The fractional contribution of natural radionuclides to the ambient gamma dose rates indicated compositional differences in concrete between the upper- and lower-floor slabs.

Making radioactivity measurements on building materials accessible to everyone

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Serafini ◽  
Matteo Alberi ◽  
Pierluigi Carconi ◽  
Enrico Chiarelli ◽  
Pierino De Felice ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Energy Calibration ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Dose Rates ◽  
Autonomous Operation ◽  
Stone Materials ◽  
Peak Recognition

<p>The CORSAIR (Cloud Oriented Radiation Sensor for Advanced Investigation of Rocks) project was born to meet the EU guidelines 2013/59/EURATOM on safety standards for protection against ionizing radiations. The project designed an automated system capable of providing a real-time measurement of the radioactive activity concentration index for building materials according to regulations of more than 20 different countries. Measurements are conducted through in situ gamma-ray spectroscopy techniques on 3 x 3 x 3 m<sup>3</sup> blocks of rock at quarries and processing centers, and quantify the activities, the abundances and the related effective dose-rates of natural radionuclides (<sup>40</sup>K, <sup>232</sup>Th, <sup>238</sup>U and their progenies) in stone materials for the building industry. The detector comprises a 2” x 2” cylindric CeBr<sub>3</sub> crystal having a 2.5% energy resolution at 1461 keV. A lateral lead shield of 1.3 cm enables a ~60% reduction of the gamma signal coming from above and beside the detector. The system is designed for providing the radiometric index in less than 30 min with an overall uncertainty of the order of 5%.</p><p>The innovative aspects of the detector are in its autonomous operation and the easy fruition of the results of the material characterization. Energy calibration and peak recognition are automatically performed on‑board through an innovative stochastic method based on simulated annealing. The computation of the results is fully-automated and requires no intervention of the operator. The battery-powered detector is equipped with GPS, LoRa, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity and can be remotely controlled thanks to a dedicated Android app. Acquired data and activity indexes are synced through LoRa connectivity to a cloud database, where they can be easily accessed by sellers and buyers, thus preventing the placing on the market of blocks hazardous to public health.</p>

scholarly journals Measurement of Natural Radionuclides and Radon Gas Concentration in Surface Soil samples within Jalingo Metropolis, North East Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-145
Author(s):  
T Sombo ◽  
F Bibi ◽  
AA Tyovenda
Keyword(s):  
Natural Radionuclides ◽  
Hazard Index ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Radium Equivalent Activity ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Radon Gas ◽  
North East ◽  
Radium Equivalent ◽  
Average Activity

Activity concentrations of radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, 40K) and radon gas in soil samples collected within Jalingo Metropolis were assessed by gamma spectrometric techniques using Na (TI) scintillation detector. The result showed an average activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K to be 18.626±7.31 Bq/kg, 16.709±10.96 Bq/kg and,167.935±389.33 Bq/kg. The concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th were lower than the world average value while 40K was far higher that the recommended value.Most people in the study area use soil for building construction therefore, it was necessary to asses if there are any radiological hazards associated with the soil. This was achieved by determining Radium equivalent activity (Raeq), internal hazard index (Hin) and Annual effective dose rate. The result indicates that the indices are within normal limit. The Radon concentration in soil varies 11.126±1.315 kBq/kg to 30.374±3.331 kBq/kg with a mean value of 17.881±7.019 kBq/kg which is within the safety limits. Generally, the result showed that the soil in the study area might not pose major hazard to the members of the public

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