scholarly journals Natural radioactivity level in materials used for medieval vaulting in the territory of the central Balkan region

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Bjelic ◽  
Dragana Todorovic ◽  
Jelena Krneta-Nikolic ◽  
Djordje Lazarevic ◽  
Koviljka Stankovic

This work presents the results of an investigation undertaken to determine the level of natural radioactivity in the traditional building materials used for medieval indoor vaulted constructions in the territory of the central Balkan region. Indoor radiation exposure varies appreciably if it comes from the earth building materials, hence the presence of natural radioisotopes of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in masonry vaulted constructions was analyzed using gamma ray spectrometry. In addition, the internal health hazard index, the absorbed dose rates and the effective annual doses were calculated. The results were then compared both with the reported data from the previous studies concerning the territory of the Balkan Peninsula, as well as with the worldwide values for the materials of historic buildings. The results obtained from the materials examined in this paper all showed the radioactivity levels below the maximum permitted values.

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-118
Author(s):  
Daniel Hatungimana ◽  
Caner Taşköprü ◽  
Mutlu İçhedef ◽  
Müslim Murat Saç ◽  
Şemsi Yazıcı ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to determine the radon and natural radioactivity concentrations of some building materials and to assess the radiation hazard associated with those mortar materials when they are used in the construction of dwellings. Radon measurements were realized by using LR-115 Type 2 solid state nuclear track detectors. Radon activity concentrations of these materials were found to vary between 130.00 ± 11.40 and 1604.06 ± 40.5 Bq m−3. The natural radioactivity in selected mortar materials was analyzed by using scintillation gamma spectroscopy. The activity concentrations for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K for the studied mortar materials ranged from ND to 48.5 ± 7.0 Bq kg−1, ND to 41.0 ± 6.4 Bq kg−1 and ND to 720.4 ± 26.8 Bq kg−1, respectively. Radium equivalent activities, external and internal hazard indexes, gamma and alpha indexes and absorbed gamma dose rates were calculated to assess the radiation hazard of the natural radioactivity in studied samples. The calculated Raeq values of all samples were found to be lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg−1 set for building materials. The estimated hazard index values were found to be under the unity and the absorbed dose rate values were also below the worldwide average of 84 nGy h−1.


2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 190-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukai Zhuang ◽  
Xinwei Lu ◽  
Jiantao Li ◽  
Qian Li

The radiation hazards of five kinds of different solid metallic tailings collected from Shangluo, China were determined on the basis of natural radioactivity measurements using low background multichannel gamma ray spectrometry. The activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the tailings ranged from 5.1 to 204.3, 3.8 to 28.5, and 289.6 to 762.3 Bq/kg, respectively. The radium equivalent activities and the external hazard indexes of all studied metallic tailings were below the internationally accepted value of 370 Bq/kg and unity, respectively. The internal hazard index of vanadium tailings exceeded unity, while the internal hazard indexes of other analyzed metallic tailings were less than unity. The indoor air absorbed dose rate values for all studied metallic tailings except lead-zinc tailings and gold tailings were higher than the world population-weighted average of 84 nGy/h and the annual effective dose values of all metallic tailings except for vanadium tailings were lower than 1 mSv. The study showed that vanadium tailings present a radiation hazard and their usage as building materials should be restricted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dariusz Malczewski ◽  
Maria Dziurowicz ◽  
Zdenek Kalab ◽  
Marketa Rösnerová

AbstractThis study reports the natural radioactivity of characteristic rocks found in the historic Jeroným Mine of the Czech Republic as measured under the laboratory conditions. The rocks analyzed included granites and schists weathered to varying degrees and collected from different levels of the underground workings of the Jeroným Mine. The mine itself has been subject to metal extraction (mainly tin and tungsten) since the sixteenth century and has recently been developed as a cultural and scientific attraction open to the public. Activity concentrations of 40K, 232Th and 238U were measured from nine rock samples using gamma-ray spectrometry. The activity concentrations of 40K varied from 595 Bq kg−1 to 1244 Bq kg−1, while 232Th varied from 25 Bq kg−1 to 55 Bq kg−1. The activities associated with 238U ranged from 46 Bq kg−1 to 386 Bq kg−1. The measured activities were used to estimate two radiation hazard indices typically applied to building materials, the activity concentration index I and the external hazard index Hex. Mean respective values of 1.02 and 0.77 for I and Hex indicate that the rocks found in the Jeroným Mine meet radiological safety standards for building materials and do not pose a risk to potential tourists and staff.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dariusz Malczewski ◽  
Maria Dziurowicz ◽  
Zdenek Kalab ◽  
Marketa Rosnerova

Abstract This study reports the natural radioactivity of characteristic rocks found in the historic Jeroným Mine of the Czech Republic as measured under the laboratory conditions. The rocks analyzed included granites and schists weathered to varying degrees and collected from different levels of the underground workings of the Jeroným Mine. The mine itself has been subject to metal extraction (mainly tin and tungsten) since the 16th century and has recently been developed as a cultural and scientific attraction open to the public. Activity concentrations of 40K, 232Th and 238U were measured from nine rock samples using gamma-ray spectrometry. The activity concentrations of 40K varied from 595 Bq kg− 1 to 1244 Bq kg− 1, while 232Th varied from 25 Bq kg− 1 to 55 Bq kg− 1. The activities associated with 238U ranged from 46 Bq kg− 1 to 386 Bq kg− 1. The measured activities were used to estimate two radiation hazard indices typically applied to building materials, the activity concentration index I and the external hazard index Hex. Mean respective values of 1.02 and 0.77 for I and Hex indicate that the rocks found in the Jeroným Mine meet radiological safety standards for building materials and do not pose a risk to potential tourists and staff.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Penabei ◽  
D. Bongue ◽  
P. Maleka ◽  
T. Dlamini ◽  
Saïdou ◽  
...  

In order to assess the levels of natural radioactivity and the associated radiological hazards in some building materials of the Mayo-Kebbi region (Chad), a total of nineteen samples were collected on the field. Using a high resolution γ-ray spectrometry system, the activity concentrations of radium (226Ra), thorium (232Th) and potassium (40K) in these samples have been determined. The measured average activity concentrations range from 0.56 ± 0.37 Bq kg−1 to 435 ± 7 Bq kg−1, 1.3 ± 0.6 Bq kg−1 to 50.6 ± 1.1 Bq kg−1 and 4.3 ± 2.0 Bq kg−1 to 840 ± 9 Bq kg−1, for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. The highest 226Ra average activities is found in soil brick samples of Zabili. The highest mean value of 232Th and 40K concentrations are found in soil brick samples of Madajang. The activity concentration and the radium equivalent activity (Raeq) have been compared to other studies done elsewhere in the world. Their average values are lower than most of those of countries with which the comparison has been made. Were also evaluated, the external radiation hazard index, the internal radiation hazard index, the indoor air absorbed dose rate, the outdoor air absorbed dose rate, the activity utilization index, the annual effective dose, the annual gonadal dose equivalent, the representative level index, as well as, the excess lifetime cancer risk. In accordance with the criterion of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, our results show that soil brick samples of Zabili and Madajang increases the risk of radiation exposure, thereby the possibility of developing cancer by people living in this environment. Based on these findings, brick samples from Zabili and Madajang are not recommended for construction purposes. All other sample materials have properties that are acceptable for use as building materials in terms of radiation hazard.


2020 ◽  
Vol 188 (3) ◽  
pp. 316-321
Author(s):  
Fei Tuo ◽  
Xuan Peng ◽  
Qiang Zhou ◽  
Jing Zhang

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.


Symmetry ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saifeldin Siddeeg ◽  
Mohamed Suliman ◽  
Faouzi Ben Rebah ◽  
Wissem Mnif ◽  
Amel Ahmed ◽  
...  

Various commercially imported ceramic materials used in the building of Sudanese dwellings were examined in order to determine their natural radioactivity and radiological hazard parameters. In this context, twenty-five different consignments were sampled and analyzed using (3″ × 3″) sodium iodide gamma spectrometry system NaI(Tl). The identified average activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K were 183 ± 70, 51 ± 44, and 238 ± 77 Bq/kg dry-weights, respectively. A positive correlation between 238U and 232Th in the investigated samples was identified from the observed significant correlation (R2 = 0.8). Interestingly, a low Th/U ratio (~0.3) was recorded, which could be related to the systematic loss of thorium during the fabrication process. The measured activity concentrations for these radionuclides were comparable with the reported data obtained from similar materials used in other countries showing similarity in ceramic materials used in buildings. Five different radiation indices, such as the average radium equivalent (Raeq), the absorbed dose rate (D), the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), the external hazard index (Hex), and the radioactivity level index (lγ), which indicate hazardous radiation, were estimated from these measurements. The obtained results revealed average values of 274 ± 106 Bq/kg, 125 ± 48 nGy/h, 1.23 ± 0.48 mSv/y, 0.74 ± 0.29, and 0.94 ± 0.37, for Raeq, D, AEDE, Hex, and lγ, respectively. The mean values of Raeq and Hex were in good agreement with the international limits, while the means of D and lγ were higher than the universal values. Calculated AEDE in about 60% of the samples exceeded the universal limit of 1 mSv/y for the public exposure (maximum value of 2.16 mSv/y). The investigated parameters were in the same range for the majority of imported samples; however, they were slightly higher than the locally produced ceramic, highlighting the importance of monitoring imported materials for their radioactivity contents.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 6471
Author(s):  
Nasser M. Moghazy ◽  
Amira M. El-Tohamy ◽  
Mona M. Fawzy ◽  
Hamdy A. Awad ◽  
Hesham M. H. Zakaly ◽  
...  

The present study was carried out on commercial types of Aswan granite used as building and decorative materials. Nearly 29 granitic rocks samples from 11 classes (black Aswan, red Aswan, dark Rosa, light Rosa, yellow Verdi, grey Shirka, Gandolla, Forsan, red Nefertiti, Royal, and white Halayeb) were collected from three stations near Aswan city for petrographical description and assessment of natural radioactivity. The petrographical study of granites was conducted by polarized-light microscope in order to determine their mineralogical composition and investigate their texture; the activity of the natural radionuclides 238U, Ra226, 232Th, and 40K was measured by gamma-ray spectrometry with a NaI(Tl) detector. The average values of the activities, 52.2 Bq kg−1, 57.8 Bq kg−1, 31.2 Bq kg−1, and 1055.7 Bq kg−1 of U-238, Th-232, Ra-226, and K-40, respectively, were higher than that the world average values of 35 Bq kg−1, 30 Bq kg−1 and 400 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, respectively, according to the recommended levels from UNSCEAR reports. The minimum and maximum values obtained were compared with the value ranges from other locations in the Eastern Desert, highlighting the fact that that the maximum values obtained in this work are higher than those in other areas. According to the radiological hazards indices results, most samples lie in the permissible level ranges, suggesting their favorability for use as building materials. In contrast to that, some samples have some environmental parameters higher than the international levels, indicating their unsuitability as building materials.


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