Radionuclide content of building materials and associated gamma dose rates in Egyptian dwellings

Higgy, R.H.; El-Tahawy, M.S.; Abdel-Fattah, A.T.; Al-Akabawy, U.A.

doi:10.1016/s0265-931x(00)00017-5

Cited by 44 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Zircon, a zirconium silicate (ZrSiO 4 ), is a mineral that usually contains approximately 0.04e 0.1% by mass of the thorium and uranium oxides. Although the amount of zircon used in the glaze is low, it may still pose a radiological problem (O'Brien et al, 1998;Higgy et al, 2000).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the last two decades, scientists drew attention to the low-level exposure from naturally occurring radionuclides, and that they contribute about 10% of the average annual dose to the human body from all types of radiation (OECD, 1979;UNSCEAR, 1993;Higgy et al, 2000). Long exposures to low levels of ionizing radiation can seriously increase health risks to humans (ICRP, 1990).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of alpha activity of building materials commonly used in West Bengal, India

Ghosh

Deb

Bera

et al. 2008

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of alpha activity of building materials commonly used in West Bengal, India

Ghosh

Deb

Bera

et al. 2008

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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“…Another criterion used for the estimation of gamma-ray radiation exposure levels associated with natural radionuclides in soil is defined by the term external hazard index (H ex ) as shown in Eq. (3) (Higgy, El-Tahawy, Abdel-Fattah, & AlAkahawy, 2000;Tufail, Nasim-Akhtar, & Hamid, 2007;Faanu et al, 2013).…”

Section: Radiological Hazard Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of radiation exposure levels at Alaba e-waste dumpsite in comparison with municipal waste dumpsites in southwest Nigeria

Jibiri

Isinkaye

Momoh

2014

Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences

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a b s t r a c tRadiation exposures at the e-waste dumpsite around Alaba International Market, Lagos and three municipal waste dumpsites located in Ibadan and Ado Ekiti, southwest Nigeria were assessed by gamma ray spectroscopy using a highly shielded Canberra NaI (Tl) detector. Soil samples were collected for analysis at the municipal waste dumpsites for comparison with e-waste dumpsite. Samples were also collected at a location free from waste dumps to serve as control. The mean concentrations of 40 K, 226 Ra, and 232 Th obtained at the e-waste dumpsite were lower than those obtained at the municipal waste dumpsites and the controls site. The values obtained at the e-waste dumpsite were also lower than the world average values of 412 Bq/kg, 35 Bq/kg and 30 Bq/kg for 40 K, 226 Ra, and 232 Th, respectively as reported by UNSCEAR. The mean annual effective dose rate obtained for the soil samples from e-waste dumpsite, Oritaperin, Ring-road and Ilokun dumpsites were respectively 0.026 mSv, 0.074 mSv, 0.080 mSv and 0.093 mSv/yr. The mean absorbed dose rate at the e-waste dumpsite was 21.12nGy/h which is lower than the world average of 60nGy/h. Values for other hazard indices were below the world average and lower than their respective minimum permissible limits. Hence, e-waste and municipal waste does not pose any immediate radiological risk to the people working/living in the vicinity of the dumpsites.

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“…While defining the Ra eq activity according to Equation (3), it has been assumed that 370 Bq kg −1226 Ra or 259 Bq kg −1232 Th or 4810 Bq kg −140 K produce the same gamma dose rate. Another radiation hazard index, called the I γ r , is defined as follows (12,18) …”

Section: γ-Ray Radiation Hazard Indexesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The study of the distribution of primordial radionuclides 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K allows the understanding of the radiological implication of these elements due to the γ -ray exposure of the body and irradiation of lung tissue from inhalation of radon and its daughters (8)(9)(10). In particular, it is also important to assess the radiation hazards arising due to the use of soil or sand samples in the construction of dwellings (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Therefore, the assessment of gamma radiation dose from natural sources is particularly important as natural radiation is the largest contributor to the external dose of the world population (1,16).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural radioactivity and associated radiation hazards of river sands in Xi'an, China

Zhang

2009

Radiation Effects and Defects in Solids

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The natural radionuclide γ -ray activities and the gamma-absorbed dose rates, produced by 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K were determined in sands collected from four big rivers in Xi'an, China, using γ -ray spectrometry. The activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K in sand samples ranges from 11.0 to 41.3 Bq kg −1 , 16.3 to 52.3 Bq kg −1 and 618.5 to 1186.6 Bq kg −1 , respectively. The concentrations of these radionuclides are compared with the typical world values and the average activity of Chinese soil and Shaanxi soil. Radium equivalent activities (Ra eq ), external hazard index (H ex ) and representative level index (I γ r ) are calculated for the samples to assess the radiation hazards arising due to the use of these sand samples in the construction of dwellings. All the sand samples have Ra eq activity lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg −1 , H ex less than unity and I γ r close to 1 Bq kg −1 . The overall mean outdoor terrestrial gamma dose rate is 65.0 nGy h −1 and the corresponding outdoor annual effective dose is 0.080 mSv. None of the studied riverbeds are considered a radiological risk and sand can be safely used in construction.

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Radionuclide content of building materials and associated gamma dose rates in Egyptian dwellings

Cited by 44 publications

References 11 publications

Assessment of alpha activity of building materials commonly used in West Bengal, India

Assessment of alpha activity of building materials commonly used in West Bengal, India

Assessment of radiation exposure levels at Alaba e-waste dumpsite in comparison with municipal waste dumpsites in southwest Nigeria

Natural radioactivity and associated radiation hazards of river sands in Xi'an, China

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