MEASUREMENT OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN BUILDING MATERIALS SAMPLES BY USING (HPGe) SYSTEM
HTML Full TextMEASUREMENT OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN BUILDING MATERIALS SAMPLES BY USING (HPGe) SYSTEM
Hasan Mohammed Abdullah 1, Khalid S. Jassim * 2 and Jamal F. Mohammad 3
Ibn Hayyan University College 1, Holy Karbelaa, Iraq.
Department of Physics 2, College of Education for Pure Science, University of Babylon, PO Box 4, Hilla-Babylon, Iraq.
Department of Physics 3, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Anbar, Iraq.
ABSTRACT: In the present work, we have measured natural radioactivity in twelve building materials samples for four kinds (Brick, cement, gypsum and sand) obtained from some Iraqi governorates by using High Purity Germanium (HPGe) radiation detectors system. The results of measurements have shown that the average values specific activity concentrations for 238U, 232Th and 40K which were equal to (24.236 ± 4.4 Bq/kg), (26.394 ± 4.0 Bq/kg) and (174.888 ± 29.1 Bq/kg), respectively., which were lesser than the corresponding recommended global values reported by (UNSCEAR, 2000) publication. The radiation hazard indices [Raeq DƔ, (AED)in, (AED)out, Hin and Hex] were also studied. The obtained results were also found to be lesser than the allowed limits given by (UNSCEAR, 2000). Thus, all results obtained in the present work have shown no significant radiological hazard when the studied building materials is used for construction of buildings.
Keywords: |
Radioactivity, Radiation hazard indices, Building materials
INTRODUCTION: The world is normally radioactive, and around 90% of human radiation presentation emerges from characteristic sources, for example, terrestrial radiation, introduction to Rn-222 and cosmic radiation 1. All building materials contain different measures of radio-activity. For instance, materials got from shake and soil contains regular radionuclides of the (Th-232), and (U-238) arrangement and the radioactive isotope of (K-40). Counterfeit radionuclides can likewise be available, for example, (Cs-137), coming about because of aftermath from weapons testing and the Chernobyl mishap. All these can be wellsprings of both inside and outer radiation introduction.
Inward presentation happens through the inward breath of radon gas, and outer introduction happens through the discharge of infiltrating gamma beams 2. This paper plots the technique utilized for deciding the sort and particular action of the normally happening radionuclides found in regularly utilized building materials in the Republic of Iraq, the outcomes got and the radiological wellbeing essentialness of such results 3.
MATERIALS AND METHOD: Twelve samples of building materials (Brick, cement, gypsum and sand) were collected from various available in the local Iraqi market. The samples were dried in an oven to ensure moisture was removed, and then were stored in a tight Marinelli beakers for one month to a chieve secular equilibrium. In the present work at (3 × 3) inch (HPGe) system. An essential requirement for the measure of gamma emitter is the exact identity of photo peaks presents in the spectrum produced by the detector system. The energy calibration was performed by using a standard source of one litter capacity of Marinelli beaker of Europium-152, which has been prepared in this work with energies (964.0, 1408.0, 344.3, 444.6, 411.1, 778.9, 1112.0, 121.8, 1085.8 and 244.7 keV). The energy calibration source should be counted long enough to produce well-defined photo peaks. The specific activity concentrations of radionuclides in samples were obtained by using the equation: 4
A = (Net area under the peak) / M × Iγ (Eγ) × eff × T ......................1
Where, A = The specific activity concentration of radionuclides, M = mass of the building materials sample, eff = The efficiency of the detectors at energy Eγ, Iγ(Eγ) = is the relative intensity, T = The sample counting time.
Radiation Hazard Indices Calculation:
Radium Equivalent Activity (Raeq):
Raeq = 1.43ATh + AU + 0.077AK .…………..2
Where, AU, ATh and AK are the specific activity concentrations of U-238, Th-232 and K-40 respectively.
Absorbed Gamma Dose Rate (Dγ):
Dɣ = 0.604ATh +0.462AU + 0.0417AK ………....3
Annual Effective Dose Equivalent:
(AED)in=Dɣ(nGy/h)×10-6×8760h/y×0.80×0.7Sv/Gy .............4
(AED)out=Dɣ(nGy/h)×10-6×8760h/y×0.20×0.7Sv/Gy ............ 5
External (Hex) & Internal (Hin) Hazard Indices:
Hex = AU / 370 + ATh / 259 + AK / 4810 ............6
Internal exposure to Rn-222 and its radioactive progeny is controlled by the internal hazard index (Hin) and it is given by the relation:
Hin = AU / 370 + ATh / 259 + AK / 4810 ............7
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Our present investigation is based on the study of twelve samples of different available kinds of building materials (Brick, cement, gypsum and sand) which were available in the local markets, some of them were Iraqi origins and the others from different foreign origins, (cement Lebanon and cement Iran) for which the measured of radioactivity emitted from these building materials samples by using (HPGe) system.
Table 1 present specific activity concentration for different kinds of building material samples. It can be noticed that , The maximum value of AU equal to (29.750 Bq/kg) cement sample (Lebanon origin), while the minimum value of AU equal to (13.490 Bq/kg) brick sample (Najif origin), see Fig. 1, with an average value of (24.236 ± 4.4 Bq/kg). The present results have shown that values of AU in building materials (Brick, cement, gypsum and sand) were lesser than the recommended value of (35 Bq/kg) for AU 9. The maximum value of ATh equal to (33.530 Bq/kg) sand sample (Baghdad origin), while the minimum value of ATh equal to (16.180 Bq/kg) gypsum sample (Baghdad origin), see Fig. 1, with an average value of (26.394 ± 4.0 Bq/kg).
The present results have shown that values of ATh in building materials (Brick, cement, gypsum and sand) were lesser than the recommended value of (30 Bq/kg) for ATh 9. The maximum value of AK equal to (223.270 Bq/kg) brick sample (Najif origin), while the minimum value of AK equal to (115.830 Bq/kg) gypsum sample (Baghdad origin), see Fig. 1, with an average value of (174.888 ± 29.1 Bq/kg). The present results have shown that values of AK in building materials (Brick, cement, gypsum and sand) were lesser than the recommended value of (400 Bq/kg) AK 9. The maximum value of specific activity of (Raeq) equal to (93.257 Bq/kg) sand sample (Baghdad origin), while the minimum value of specific activity of (Raeq) equal to (60.010 Bq/kg) brick sample (Baghdad origin), see Fig. 2, with an average value of (75.446 ± 6.3 Bq/kg). The present results have shown that values of specific activity for (Raeq) in building materials (Brick, cement, gypsum and sand) were lesser than the recommended value of (370 Bq/kg) for the specific activity of (Raeq) 9. The maximum value of DƔ equal to (42.496 nGy/h) sand sample (Baghdad origin), while the minimum value of DƔ equal to (27.713 nGy/h) brick sample (Baghdad origin), see Fig. 2, with an average value of (34.432 ± 2.7 nGy/h). The present results have shown that values of specific activity for DƔ in building materials (Brick, cement, gypsum and sand) were lesser than the recommended value of (55 nGy/h) for the DƔ 9. The maximum value of (AED)in equal to (0.208 mSv/y) sand sample (Baghdad origin), while the minimum value of (AED)in equal to (0.136 mSv/y) brick sample (Baghdad origin), see Fig. 3, with an average value of (0.169 ± 0.01 mSv/y) 5-8.
TABLE 1: AU, ATh, AK FOR BUILDING MATERIAL SAMPLES (CEMENT, BRICK, GYPSUM AND SAND)
No. of
sample |
Kind of building materials & origin | U-238
(Bq/kg) |
Th-232
(Bq/kg) |
K-40
(Bq/kg) |
Raeq
(Bq/kg) |
DƔ
(nGy/h) |
(A.E.D) (mSv/y) | Hazard index | ||
IndoorEin | OutdoorEout | Hin | Hex | |||||||
1 | Cement (Najif) | 23.640 | 29.670 | 153.580 | 77.894 | 35.247 | 0.173 | 0.043 | 0.274 | 0.210 |
2 | Cement (Sulaymniya) | 20.870 | 32.180 | 183.820 | 81.042 | 36.744 | 0.180 | 0.045 | 0.275 | 0.219 |
3 | Cement (Lebanon ) | 29.750 | 21.720 | 201.580 | 76.331 | 35.269 | 0.173 | 0.043 | 0.287 | 0.206 |
4 | Brick (Iran) | 13.490 | 27.890 | 223.270 | 70.564 | 32.388 | 0.159 | 0.040 | 0.227 | 0.191 |
5 | Brick (Najif) | 27.090 | 27.540 | 123.860 | 76.009 | 34.315 | 0.168 | 0.042 | 0.279 | 0.205 |
6 | Brick (Baghdad) | 21.920 | 17.850 | 163.180 | 60.010 | 27.713 | 0.136 | 0.034 | 0.221 | 0.162 |
7 | Sand (Karbala) | 28.830 | 33.530 | 214.010 | 93.257 | 42.496 | 0.208 | 0.052 | 0.330 | 0.252 |
8 | Sand (Najif) | 18.840 | 25.580 | 221.510 | 72.476 | 33.391 | 0.164 | 0.041 | 0.247 | 0.196 |
9 | Sand (Karbala ) | 29.350 | 28.650 | 153.910 | 82.171 | 37.282 | 0.183 | 0.046 | 0.301 | 0.222 |
10 | Gypsum (Baghdad ) | 29.120 | 16.180 | 115.830 | 61.176 | 28.056 | 0.138 | 0.034 | 0.244 | 0.165 |
11 | Gypsum (Diyala) | 28.210 | 27.230 | 164.260 | 79.797 | 36.330 | 0.178 | 0.045 | 0.292 | 0.216 |
12 | Gypsum (Karbala) | 19.720 | 28.710 | 179.840 | 74.623 | 33.951 | 0.167 | 0.042 | 0.255 | 0.202 |
Ave. | 24.236
±4.4 |
26.394
±4.0 |
174.888
±29.1 |
75.446
±6.3 |
34.432
±2.7 |
0.169
±0.01 |
0.042
±0.003 |
0.269
±0.02 |
0.204
± 0.01 |
|
Min. | 13.490 | 16.180 | 115.830 | 60.010 | 27.713 | 0.136 | 0.034 | 0.221 | 0.162 | |
Max. | 29.750 | 33.530 | 223.270 | 93.257 | 42.496 | 0.208 | 0.052 | 0.330 | 0.252 |
The present results have shown that values of specific activity for (AED)in in building materials (Brick, cement, gypsum and sand) were lesser than the recommended value of (1 mSv/y) for the (AED)in 9. The maximum value of (AED)out equal to (0.052 mSv/y) sand sample (Baghdad origin), while the minimum value of (AED)out equal to (0.034 mSv/y) brick sample (Baghdad origin), see Fig. 3, with an average value of (0.042 ± 0.003 mSv/y). The present results have shown that values of specific activity for (AED)out in building materials (Brick, cement, gypsum and sand) were lesser than the recommended value of (1 mSv/y) for the (AED)out 9. The maximum value of (Hin) equal to (0.330) sand sample (Baghdad origin), while the minimum value of (Hin) equal to (0.221) brick sample (Baghdad origin), see Fig. 4, with an average value of (0.269 ± 0.02). The present results have shown that values of specific activity for (Hin) in building materials (Brick, cement, gypsum and sand) were lesser than the recommended value of (1) for the (Hin) 9. The maximum value of (Hex) equal to (0.252) sand sample (Baghdad origin), while the minimum value of (Hex) equal to (0.162) brick sample (Baghdad origin), see Fig. 4, with an average value of (0.204 ± 0.01). The present results have shown that values of specific activity for (Hin) in building materials (Brick, cement, gypsum and sand) were lesser than the recommended value of (1) for the (Hex) 9.
CONCLUSION: The obtained results confirm some conclusions as below:
- The maximum value of AU equal to (29.750 Bq/kg) was found in cement sample (Lebanon origin).
- The maximum value of ATh equal to (33.530 Bq/kg) was found in sand sample (Baghdad origin).
- The maximum value of AK equal to (223.270 Bq/kg) was found in brick sample (Najif origin).
- All results obtained in the present work have shown no significant radiological hazard when the studied building materials (Brick, cement, gypsum and sand) is used, for example, for construction of buildings.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Nil
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Nil
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How to cite this article:
Abdullah HM and Jassim KS: Measurement of natural radioactivity in building materials samples by using (HPGe) system. Int J Pharm Sci & Res 2019; 10(6): 3109-12. doi: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.10(6).3109-12.
All © 2013 are reserved by International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. This Journal licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Article Information
61
3109-3112
1030
964
English
IJPSR
H. M. Abdullah, K. S. Jassim * and J. F. Mohammad
Department of Physics, College of Education for Pure Science, University of Babylon, Hilla-Babylon, Iraq.
Khalid_ik74@yahoo.com
18 September 2018
03 January 2019
25 May 2019
10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.10(6).3109-12
01 June 2019