Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T05:14:18.463Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Natural radioactivity and associated radiationhazards of some commonly used building materials in southwest Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 May 2013

M.O. Isinkaye  and
J.I. Agbi
M.O. Isinkaye*
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Ekiti State University, P.M.b. 5363, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria
J.I. Agbi
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Nigeria
*
* e-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides(40K, 226Ra and 232Th) in fivedifferent types of commonly used building materials in southwestNigeria were measured using a low-background NaI(Tl) detector coupledto an IBM-compatible multichannel analyzer. The highest mean concentrationof 40K, which was 887.5 ± 101.3 Bq.kg–1, was obtainedin gravel. Also, the highest mean concentrations of 226Raand 232Th were obtained, respectively, in sand and brick samples.The lowest mean concentrations of 40K, 226Raand 232Th, respectively, were obtained in brick and cementsample. The annual gonadal effective dose (AGED) and other radiologicalparameters were estimated from the activity concentrations of theradionuclides. The highest mean values of the AGED and radium equivalentactivity concentration obtained were 359.1 μSv.y–1 and110.9 Bq.kg–1, respectively. All these radiological parameterswere below the maximum permissible levels recommended for safe useof materials in building construction. It can therefore be concludedthat these materials do not pose any radiological hazard to thedwellers of buildings constructed with them.

Keywords

building materialsprimordial radionuclidesradiation hazardsNaI(Tl) detector
Type
Research Article
Information
Radioprotection , Volume 48 , Issue 3 , July 2013 , pp. 355 - 365
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2013

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ackers, J.G., Den-Boer, J.F., De-Jong, P., Wolschrijin, R.A. (1985) Radioactivity and exhalation rates of building materials in the Netherlands, Sci. Tot. Environ. 45, 151-156. Google Scholar
Al-Jundi, J., Salah, W., Bawa‘aneh, M.S.,Afaneh, F. (2006) Exposure to radiation from the natural radioactivity in Jordian building materials, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 118, 93-96. Google ScholarPubMed
Amrani, D., Tahtat, M. (2001) Natural radioactivity in Algerian building materials, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 54, 687-689. Google ScholarPubMed
BEIR (1999) Health Effects of Exposure to Radon. Committee on Biological Effect of Ionizing Radiation BEIR IV. National Academy Press, Washington DC.
Beretka, J., Mathew, P.J. (1985) Natural radioactivity of Australian building materials, industrial wastes and by-product, Health Phys. 48, 87-95. Google Scholar
Bou-Rabee, F., Bem, H. (1996) Natural radioactivity in building materials utilized in the state of Kuwait, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 213, 143-149. Google Scholar
Brigido Flores, O., Montalvan Estrada, A., Rosa Suarez, R., Tomas Zerquera, J., Hernandez Perez, A. (2008) Natural radioactivity content in building materials and gamma dose rate in dwellings in Cuba, J. Environ. Radioact. 99, 1834-1837. Google ScholarPubMed
Cliff, K.D., Green, B.M.R., Miles, J.C.H. (1985) The levels of radioactive materials in some UK building materials, Sci. Tot. Environ. 45, 181-186. Google Scholar
European Commission (1999) Radiological protection principles concerning the natural radioactivity of building materials. Radiation Protection 112. EC, Brussels.
Faheem, M., Mujahid, S.A., Matiulla, (2008) Assessment of radiological hazards due to natural radioactivity in soil and building material samples collected from six districts of Punjab province-Pakistan, Radiat. Meas. 43, 1443-1447. Google Scholar
Farai, I.P., Ademola, J.A. (2005) Radium equivalent activity concentrations in concrete building blocks in eight cities in Southwestern Nigeria, J. Environ. Radioact. 79, 119-125. Google ScholarPubMed
Farai, I.P., Ejeh, J.E. (2006) Radioactivity Concentrations in Common Brands of Cement in Nigeria, Radioprotection 41, 455-462. Google Scholar
Farai, I.P., Isinkaye, M.O. (2009) Radiological safety assessment of surface water dam sediments used as building materials in Southwestern Nigeria, J. Radiol. Prot. 29, 85-93. Google ScholarPubMed
Hassan, N.B., Ishikawa, T., Hosoda, M., Sorimachi, A., Tokonami, S., Fukushi, M., Sahoo, S.K. (2010) Assessment of the natural radioactivity using two techniques for the measurement of radionuclide concentration in building materials used in Japan, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 283, 15-21. Google Scholar
Hayambu, P., Zaman, M.B., Lubaba, N.C.H., Munsanje, S.S., Nuleya, D. (1995) Natural radioactivity in Zambia building materials collected from Lusaka, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 199, 229-238. Google Scholar
Hewamanna, R., Sumithrachchi, C.S., Mahawatte, P., Nanayakkara, H.L. C., Ratnayake, H.C. (2001) Natural activity and gamma dose from Sri Lankan clay bricks used in building construction, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 54, 365-369. Google Scholar
Higgy, R.H., El-Tahawy, M.S., Abdel-Fattah, A.T., Al-Akabawy, U.A. (2000) Radionuclide content of building materials and associated gamma dose rates in Egyptian dwellings, J. Environ. Radioact. 50, 253-261. Google Scholar
Ingersoll, G.J.A. (1983) Survey of radionuclide contents and radon emanation rates in building materials in USA, Health Phys. 45, 363-368. Google Scholar
Khan, K., Khan, H.M. (2001) Natural gamma-emitting radionuclides in Pakistani Portland cement, Appl Radiat Isot 54, 861-865. Google ScholarPubMed
Kobeissi, M.A., El Samad, O., Zahraman, K., Milky, S., Bahsoun, F., Abumurad, K.M. (2008) Natural radioactivity measurements in building meterials in Southern Lebanon, J. Environ. Radioact. 99, 1279-1288. Google Scholar
Krstić, D., Nikezić, D., Stevanović, N., Vučič, D. (2007) Radioactivity of some domestic and imported building materials from South Eastern Europe, Radiat. Meas. 42, 1731-1736. Google Scholar
Kumar, A., Kumar, M., Baldev, S., Singh, S. (2003) Natural activities of 238U, 232Th and 40K in some Indian building materials, Radiat. Meas. 36, 465-469. Google Scholar
Kumar, V., Ramachandran, T.V., Prasad, R. (1999) Natural radioactivity of Indian building materials and by-products, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 51, 93-96. Google ScholarPubMed
Malanca, A., Pessina, V., Dallara, G. (1993) Radionuclide-content of building materials and gamma-ray dose rates in dwellings of Rio-Grande Do-Norte Brazil, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 48, 199-203. Google Scholar
Mantazul, I., Chowdury, M.N., Alam, A.K. (1998) Concentration of radionuclides in building and ceramic materials of Bangladesh and evaluation of radiation hazard, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 231, 117-121. Google Scholar
Mehdizadeh S., Faghihi R., Sina S. (2011) Natural radioactivity in building materials in Iran. Nukleonika 56, 363-368.
Nazaroff W.W., Nero Jr A.V. (Eds) (1988) Radon and its decay products in indoor air, John Wiley and Sons.
Ngachin, M., Garavaglis, M., Giovani, C., Kwato Njock, M.G., Nourreine, A. (2007) Assessment of natural radioactivity and associated radiation hazards in some Cameroonian building materials, Radiat. Meas. 42, 61-67. Google Scholar
Otoo, F., Adukpo, O.K., Darko, E.O., Emi-Reynolds, G., Awudu, A.R., Ahiamadjie, H., Tandoh, J.B., Hasford, F., Adu, S., Gyampo, O. (2011) Assessment of natural radioactive materials used along the coast of Central Region of Ghana, Res. J. Environ. Earth Sci. 3, 261-268. Google Scholar
Papaefthymiou, H., Gouseti, O. (2008) Natural radioactivity and associated radiation hazards in building materials used in Peloponnese, Greece, Radiat. Meas. 43, 1453-1457. Google Scholar
Papastefanou, C., Stoulos, S., Manolopoulou, M. (2005) The radioactivity of building materials, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 266, 367-372. Google Scholar
Righi, S., Guerra, R., Jeyapandian, M., Verta, S., Albertazzi, A. (2009) Natural radioactivity in Italian ceramic tiles, Radioprotection 44, 413-419. Google Scholar
Rizzo, S., Brai, M., Basile, S., Bellia, S., Hauser, S. (2001) Gamma activity and geochemical features of building materials; estimation of gamma dose rate and indoor radon levels in Sicily, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 55, 259-265. Google Scholar
Soranin, H., Steger, F. (1983) Natural radioactivity of building materials in Austria, Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 7, 59-61. Google Scholar
Stojanovska, Z., Nedelkovski, D., Ristova, M. (2010) Natural radioactivity and human exposure by raw materials and end product from cement industry used as building materials, Radiat. Meas. 45, 969-972. Google Scholar
Stoulos, S., Manolopoulo, M., Papastefanou, C. (2003) Assessment of natural radiation exposure and radon exhalation from building materials in Greece, J. Environ. Radioact. 69, 225-240. Google Scholar
STUK (2010) The radioactivity of building materials and ash. Giude ST12.2. Helsinki: Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority.
Tufail, M., Nasim, Akhtar, Sabiha, Javied, Hamid, T. (2007) Natural radioactivity hazards of building bricks fabricated from saline soil of two districts of Pakistan, J. Radiol. Prot. 27, 481-492. Google ScholarPubMed
Turhan, S. (2007) Assessment of the natural radioactivity and radiological hazards in Turkish cement and its raw materials, J. Environ. Radioact. 99, 404–414. Google ScholarPubMed
Turhan, S., Baykan, U.N., Sen, K. (2008) Measurement of the natural radioactivity in building materials used in Ankara and assessment of external doses, J. Radiol. Prot. 28, 83-91. Google Scholar
UNSCEAR (1988) Sources, Effects and Risks of Ionizing Radiation. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, United Nations, New York.
UNSCEAR (2011) Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, United Nations, Annex A & B, New York.
Xinwei, L. (2004) Natural radioactivity in some building materials and by-products of Shaanxi, China, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 262, 775-777. Google Scholar
Xinwei, L. (2005) Natural radioactivity in some building materials of Xi’an, China, Radiat. Meas. 40, 94-97. Google Scholar
Xinwei, L., Lingquing, W., Xiaodan, J. (2006) Radiometric analysis of Chine commercial granites, J. Radianal. Nucl. Chem. 267, 669-673. Google Scholar
Yasir, M.S., Ab Majeed, A., Yahaya, R. (2007) Study of natural radionuclides and its radiation hazard index in Malaysian building materials, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 273, 539-541.Google Scholar