Measurement of Natural Radioactivity in Some Commercial Marble Samples Used in Algeria

Abstract

Ionizing radiations emitted by natural radionuclides have always existed in building materials which directly affect human beings, and can contribute in accumulated dose in long term. The objective of this work was an investigation of natural radioactivity levels associated radiation hazard in commercial marble samples used in Algeria. Six samples were collected from marble dealers and were analyzed by gamma spectrometry, using a high resolution HPGe semi-conductor detector with (1.11 keV for ²¹⁴Bi 609 keV line). The spectra were analyzed using the Genie 2000 software dedicated to the processing of gamma spectra. The activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra and ⁴⁰K were determined; they ranged from 0.1 to 1.5 Bq/kg with an average concentration value of 0.9 Bq/kg, from 0.5 to 40.3 Bq/kg with a mean concentration value of 9.3 Bq/kg and from 0.7 to 38.7 Bq/kg with an average concentration value of 25.5 Bq/kg, respectively. The results were found to be lower than the world wide average values. In order to assess the radiological hazard associated to these radionuclides, radiation hazard parameters and dose estimations were elaborated.

 

Keywords

• Ionizing radiations,Marble,Natural radioactivity,Gamma spectrometry,HPGe detector

References

1. 1. N. Walley El-Dine, A. El-Shershaby, F. Ahmed and A.S. Abdel-Haleem, Appl Radiat Isot. 55 853 (2001).
2. 2. V. Ramasamy, V. Ponnusamy, J. Hemalathaa, V. Meenakshisundaramb and V. Gajendiran, INDIAN J PURE AP PHY. 43 815 (2005).
3. 3. J. Beretka and P. J. Mattew, Health Phys. 48 87 (1985).
4. 4. L. S. Quindos, P. L. Fernandez, J. Soto, C. Rodenas, J. Gomez and J. Arteche, Annales de l’Association Belge de Radioprotection. 19 289 (1994).
5. 5. M. Zalewski, M. Tomczak and J. Kapata, Pol J Environ Stud. 10 183 (2001).
6. 6. K. Chikasawa, T. Ishii and H. Sugiyama, Japan. J. Health Sci. 47 362 (2001).
7. 7. D. Amrani and M. Tahtat, Appl Radiat Isot. 54 687 (2001).
8. 8. A. Belafrites and A. Tedjani, J Phys Sci Application. 2 171(2012).

9. 9. A. Kadum, A. Bensaoula and B. Dahmani, Adv. Phys. Theories and Applications. 25 120 (2013).
10. 10. E. Saadi, A. Azbouche and F. Benrachi, AIP Conf. Proc. 1994 1(2018).
11. 11. European Commission (EC), Radiological protection principles concerning the natural radioactivity of building materials (European Commission. Radiation Protection 112. Directorate General, Environment Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection, 1999).
12. 12. R. Mustonen, M. Pennanen, M. Annanmäki and E. Oksanen, Enhanced Radioactivity of Building Materials. Final report of the contract No 96-ET-003 for the European Commission (Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority – STUK, Finland, 1997, Radiation Protection 96, Luxembourg, 1999).
13. 13. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation (New York, United Nations, 2000).
14. 14. K. Vanasundari, R. Ravisankar, D. Durgadevi, R. Kavita, M. Karthikeyan, K. Thillivelvan and B. Dhinakaran, Indian J Adv Chem Sci. 1 22 (2012).
15. 15. NEA-OECD, Nuclear Energy Agency, Exposure to radiation from natural radioactivity in building materials (OECD, Paris, 1979).