Natural radioactivity measurements in building materials in Southern Lebanon

Kobeissi, Mohammed A.; Samad, O. El; Zahraman, K.; Milky, S.; Bahsoun, F.; Abumurad, K.M.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.03.007

Cited by 36 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…5) varies from 0.1 mBq.kg −1 .h −1 to 2.1 mBq.kg −1 .h −1 . Kobeissi et al [17] found a mean value of 6.7 mBq.kg −1 .h −1 for mass exhalation rate for sands (dashed line in Fig. 5), a higher value than the results found in the present work.…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 80%

Application of a “Sealed Can Technique” and CR-39 detectors for measuring radon emanation from undamaged granitic ornamental building materials

2011

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Abstract. Radon ( 222 Rn) is the most important cause of exposure to mankind due to natural radioactivity. Radon exhalation depends not only on the 226 Ra concentration in the material, but also on other factors such as mineralogy of the region, size and density of grains and porosity of the material. As building materials are one of the major sources of environmental radon, the radiological implications of the use of materials with great content of uranium must be always assessed. In this work, radon exhalation from several undamaged granitic building materials used as ornamental rocks or coating tiles is determined using the "sealed-can technique" and CR-39 solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD). Preliminary results for radon concentrations showed values of the same order that literature values, in a range from 99 Bq.m −3 to 1100 Bq m −3 . Further, the methodology will be validated with standard sources of 222 Rn.

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 80%

Application of a “Sealed Can Technique” and CR-39 detectors for measuring radon emanation from undamaged granitic ornamental building materials

2011

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“…The average radon emissions for gypsum and concrete are 4 Bq/m 2 /h and 8 Bq/m 2 /h, respectively, calculated based on over 300 measurements of these common building materials (Ingersoll, 1983;Mustonen, 1984;Chao and Tung, 1999;Petropoulos et al, 2002;Stoulos et al, 2003;Maged and Ashraf, 2005;de Jong et al, 2006;Kobeissi et al, 2008;Ngachin et al, 2008;Sonkawade et al, 2008). Although the average radon emission rates for these building materials are similar to granite measured in this study (3.9 Bq/m 2 /h) and in the scientific literature (1 Bq/m 2 /h; 15 studies cited in the first paragraph of the Discussion), it is important to consider the mass of material in a home that may be emitting radon.…”

Section: Estimated Indoor Radon Concentrationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing exposure to granite countertops—part 2: Radon

Allen¹,

Minegishi²,

Myatt³

et al. 2009

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

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Radon gas ( 222 Rn) is a natural constituent of the environment and a risk factor for lung cancer that we are exposed to as a result of radioactive decay of radium ( 226 Ra) in stone and soil. Granite countertops, in particular, have received recent media attention regarding their potential to emit radon. Radon flux was measured on 39 full slabs of granite from 27 different varieties to evaluate the potential for exposure and examine determinants of radon flux. Flux was measured at up to six pre-selected locations on each slab and also at areas identified as potentially enriched after a full-slab scan using a Geiger-Muller detector. Predicted indoor radon concentrations were estimated from the measured radon flux using the CONTAM indoor air quality model. Whole-slab average emissions ranged from less than limit of detection to 79.4 Bq/m 2 /h (median 3.9 Bq/m 2 /h), similar to the range reported in the literature for convenience samples of small granite pieces. Modeled indoor radon concentrations were less than the average outdoor radon concentration (14.8 Bq/m 3 ; 0.4 pCi/l) and average indoor radon concentrations (48 Bq/m 3 ; 1.3 pCi/l) found in the United States. Significant within-slab variability was observed for stones on the higher end of whole slab radon emissions, underscoring the limitations of drawing conclusions from discrete samples.

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“…Radon gas is created in solid or liquid phases containing Ra. It is well known that radioactive nuclides in the U-238 decay chain occur in the Earth's crust with varying degrees of concentration and can be found almost in all types of soil, rocks, granite, and sand (Kobeissi et al 2008;. Specifically, Rn emits alpha particles with energy 5.8 MeV and is the most important radioactive element that can move through the Earth's crust with a half-life of 3.82 days and reach the atmosphere and local surroundings (Nazaroff et al 1988).…”

Section: Radon Gas and Its Use In Detecting Seismic Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The CR-39 dosimeter, which registers cumulative Rn alpha tracks as described in Kobeissi et al (2008) and shown in Fig. 3, consists of a plastic cup on whose bottom center a CR-39 detector (with dimensions 20 9 15 mm 2 and 1 mm thick) was fixed by a double sticking material.…”

Section: Profile-a In the El-khiam Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Measurement of Anomalous Radon Gas Emanation Across the Yammouneh Fault in Southern Lebanon: A Possible Approach to Earthquake Prediction

Kobeissi

Gomez

Tabet

2015

Int J Disaster Risk Sci

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The eastern Mediterranean region is an active tectonic setting that includes the Dead Sea Transform Fault, which forms the boundary between the African and the Arabian Plates and crosses Lebanon from south to north, striking in a restraining bend around 25-30°NE. The major structural feature in Lebanon is the Yammouneh Fault, which reaches to Syria and southern Turkey in a north-south direction. Measurements of radon gas concentration and exhalation rates in two locations along the southern segment of the Yammouneh Fault in south Lebanon were performed. Two profiles in the El-Khiam basin and Blat pull-apart basin and perpendicular to the Yammouneh Fault trace were analyzed. An approximate fault width 25-30 m wide was determined in the El-Khiam study area. Temporal increase of radon concentration was measured and correlated with stress/strain tectonic activity and stress drops along the studied fault segment boundary. Anomalous variable radon concentrations were detected during one of the measurements where an earthquake occurred in the region of Tiberias Lake in northern Palestine along the Yammouneh Fault in the study area. Measurements of radon concentration along a station's profile in Blat village did not show any radon anomalous variation due to the discontinuity along the fault (pull-apart), and possible absence of stress and energy accumulation along the Yammouneh Fault line in that location.

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Natural radioactivity measurements in building materials in Southern Lebanon

Cited by 36 publications

References 18 publications

Application of a “Sealed Can Technique” and CR-39 detectors for measuring radon emanation from undamaged granitic ornamental building materials

Application of a “Sealed Can Technique” and CR-39 detectors for measuring radon emanation from undamaged granitic ornamental building materials

Assessing exposure to granite countertops—part 2: Radon

Measurement of Anomalous Radon Gas Emanation Across the Yammouneh Fault in Southern Lebanon: A Possible Approach to Earthquake Prediction

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