Specific Activity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K for Assessment of Radiation Hazards from Building Materials Commonly Used in Upper Egypt

Year 2011, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 120 - 126, 01.12.2011

Mohamed Uosif

Abstract

 In this paper, the specific activity of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) in some building materials, soil, sand, redbrick, clay brick, limestone, alabaster and marble commonly used in Upper Egypt is presented. Measurements were done by using gamma spectrometry (NaI (Tl) 3″x 3″). Concentrations of natural radionuclides (CRa, CTh and CK), radium equivalent (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex), the specific dose rates in door (D) and the annual effective dose (DE) due to gamma radiation from building materials was calculated. Concentrations of natural radionuclides (226Ra and 232Th) are in usual range and below maximal permitted values. The lowest value of (Hex) is 0.15 for sand while the highest one is 0.5 for Redbrick. The ranges of (DE) are between 0.9 and 3.5 μSvy-1, it is below maximal permitted values, so that examined materials can be used for construction of new buildings (for interior and external works) as well as for covering of pavements, floors, etc. 

Keywords

Building materials, activity concentration index, dose rate, annual effective dose

Yukarı Mısır Bölgesinde Yaygın Olarak Kullanılan Yapı Malzemelerindeki Radyasyon Riskinin Değerlendirilmesi Açısından 226Ra, 232Th ve 40K’ın Özgül Aktivitelerinin Belirlenmesi

Abstract

Yukarı Mısır bölgesinde yaygın olarak kullanılan toprak, kum, kızıl tuğla, killi tuğla, kireç taşı, kaymak taşı ve mermer gibi bazı yapı malzemelerinde bulunan doğal radyoçekirdeklerin (226Ra, 232Th ve 40K) özgül aktiviteleri bu makalede sunulmaktadır. Ölçümler 3″x 3″ NaI (Tl) gama spektrometresi kullanılarak yapılmıştır. Yapı malzemelerinden gelen gama radyasyonu ölçülerek, doğal radyoçekirdek yoğunlukları (CRa, CTh ve CK), radyum eşdeğer dozu (Raeq), harici risk indisi (Hex), bina içi özgül doz oranları (D) ve yıllık etkin doz (DE) değerleri hesaplanmıştır. Doğal radyoçekirdek (226Ra ve 232Th) yoğunlukları olağan sınırlar içerisinde ve izin verilen en büyük değerlerin altındadır. En küçük Hex değeri 0.15 (kum için) iken, en büyüğü ise 0,5'tir (kızıl tuğla için). DE parametresi 0,9 μSv/y – 3,5 μSv/y aralığında ve izin verilen en büyük değerin altında olduğundan, incelenen materyallerin, taban, tavan, vb. yerlerin kaplanmasında kullanılmasının yanı sıra yeni yapıların iç ve dış kısımlarında da kullanılması uygundur.

Keywords

Yapı malzemeleri, aktivite yoğunluk indisi, doz oranı, yıllık etkin doz

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