Study of natural radionuclides and its radiation hazard index in Malaysian building materials

The main component of most building materials in Malaysia is rock. All rocks are known to contain natural radionuclides such as ²³⁸U and ²³²Th series as well as ⁴⁰K. In order to estimate the radiological impact to the dweller, the level of radionuclides present in various building materials available in Malaysia were analyzed using γ-spectrometry. The radiation hazard indexes were calculated based on the above results. The results showed that the activity concentration of natural radionculides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K was between 19.0–42.2 Bq/kg, 16.5–28.8 Bq/kg and 243.3–614.2 Bq/kg, respectively. On the whole, the radionuclides concentration was still below the global average of 50 Bq/kg, 50 Bq/kg and 500 Bq/kg for ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K, respectively The radiation hazard indexes of the building materials were also lower than the maximum value suggested.     

Distribution of137Cs,40K,238U and232Th in soils from Northern Venezuela

More than one hundred undisturbed soil samples from Northern Venezuela and the islands of Margarita and Los Roques have been analyzed for¹³⁷Cs,⁴⁰K,²³⁸U and²³²Th by -ray spectroscopy. The specimens were taken from between 5–10 cm below the earth's surface. Thus, they are valid not only for the¹³⁷Cs deposition studies but also for the estimation of the natural -ray dose from primordial radionuclides that form the terrestrial component. The concentration of⁴⁰K was directly determined from its 1461 keV -ray, while those of¹³⁷Cs,²³⁸U and²³²Th were performed using a -ray from one of their daughter radionuclides: the 661 keV -ray of^137mBa for¹³⁷Cs, the 1760 keV -ray of²¹⁴Bi for²³⁸U and the 2620 keV -ray of²⁰⁸Tl for²³²Th. Finally, the concentration values were compared with those of global estimates.     

Natural radioactivity in some building materials and by-products of Shaanxi, China

The concentration of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K has been determined by -ray spectrometry. The measured activity in the selected building materials and by-products of coal fired power plants ranges from 21.5 to 91.3 Bq·kg^–1, 15.4 to 63.2 Bq·kg^–1 and 83.2 to 683.9 Bq·kg^–1 for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K, respectively. The results were compared with the reported data of other countries and with the world average activity of soil. The radium equivalent activities values of all building materials are lower than the limit of 370 Bq·kg^–1, equivalent to a -dose of 1.5 mSv·y^–1. The values of the external hazard index and the internal radiation hazard index are less than unity.This work was supported by the Provincial Natural Sciences Foundation of Shaanxi through Grants 2003D04 and by the Science Foundation of Shaanxi Normal University. Gratitude is expressed to J. Xiaowei, W. Xiaolei, L. Zhendong for assisting in sampling.     

Microwave oven dissolution of geological samples: Novel application in the determination of natural decay series radionuclides

A microwave oven was utilised to decompose several geological materials by means of acid digestion. Dissolution was achieved in 5 min and²³⁸U,²³⁴U,²³²Th and²³⁰Th were all determined on the solutions by radiochemical separation and -spectrometry. The materials, which include a granite, an arkose, a river sediment and a nearshore marine sediment, display a large range in U and Th contents /Th/U ratio of 0.7 to 7: U content of 12 to 1400 Bq kg^–1/ and activity ratios /²³⁴U/²³⁸U of 0.95 to 1.50/. The data indicate that the microwave oven dissolution method produces data comparable to the traditional /open beaker/ method. Unit costs are, however, significantly reduced.     

Determination of uranium and thorium isotopes in mineral spring waters

Concentrations levels of uranium and thorium isotopes have been analyzed in the m mineral spring waters of a high background region of Brazil: Poços de Caldas and Águas da Prata. The procedure was based on the determination of²³⁸U,²³⁴U,²³²Th,²³⁰Th and²²⁸Th by -spectrometry after separation and purification of the isotopes of interest by using anion-exchange chromatography and preparation of the samples for -measurements by electrodeposition. The concentration varied from <1.1 to 28.4 mBq.l^–1 and from <1.6 to 141 mBq.l^–1 for²³⁸U and²³⁴U, respectively. Thorium isotope measurements varied from <0.2 to 1.8 mBq.l^–1 from <0.3 to 4.9 mBq.l^–1 and from <0.8 to 19.9 mBq.l^–1 for²³²Th,²³⁰Th and²²⁸Th, respectively. Calculations of thorium and uranium isotopic activity ratios were carried out giving values ranging from 1.9 to 7.2, from 1.2 to 3.0 and from 7.7 to 15.3 for²³⁴U/²³⁸U,²³⁰Th/²³²Th and²²⁸Th/²³²Th, respectively. The effective doses due to the intake of²³⁸U and²³⁴U present in these waters are expected to reach values up to 1.4×10^–3 mSv y^–1 and 8.0×10^–3 mSv y^–1, respectively.     

Natural radiactivity of fresh waters in Serbia

Statistical tests were performed on the -spectrometry measurement data obtained during the last decade for the natural radionuclides⁴⁰K,²²⁶Ra and²³²Th, in water samples collected from the Danube River, the Sava River and its tributaries, ground waters and artificial lakes. The lognormal radiopotassium distribution indicates a single statistical population. The presence of break points in the frequency distribution plots indicates that data for²²⁶Ra and²³²Th do not come from a single statistical population. The annual iongestion of⁴⁰K,²²⁶Ra and²³²Th was calculated and expressed in Bq y^–1.     

Environmental radioactivity level in the Ceranavodă area /Romania/ between 1981 and 1983

The environmental factors considered are: surface water, ground water, drinking water, soil, sediment and spontaneous vegetation. The analyses performed showed a low level of radioisotopes. The mean values recorded were: 4.22×10^–3 Bq dm^–3 for¹³⁷Cs, 2.97×10^–3 Bq dm^–3 for⁹⁰Sr, 14.9 Bq dm^–3 for³H and 1.07 g dm^–3 for U, in the Danube waters. The -spectrometric analysies revealed lines corresponding to⁴⁰K and the to the natural decay series of U and Th. There have been also identified the artificial radionuclides¹³⁷Cs and⁶⁰Co in sediment,⁹⁵Zr and⁹⁵Nb in the 1981 vegetation. All artificial isotopes resulted from atmospheric fallout.     

Natural radioactivity in some building materials and by-products of Shaanxi, China

The concentration of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K has been determined by -ray spectrometry. The measured activity in the selected building materials and by-products of coal fired power plants ranges from 21.5 to 91.3 Bq·kg^–1, 15.4 to 63.2 Bq·kg^–1 and 83.2 to 683.9 Bq·kg^–1 for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K, respectively. The results were compared with the reported data of other countries and with the world average activity of soil. The radium equivalent activities values of all building materials are lower than the limit of 370 Bq·kg^–1, equivalent to a -dose of 1.5 mSv·y^–1. The values of the external hazard index and the internal radiation hazard index are less than unity.This work was supported by the Provincial Natural Sciences Foundation of Shaanxi through Grants 2003D04 and by the Science Foundation of Shaanxi Normal University. Gratitude is expressed to J. Xiaowei, W. Xiaolei, L. Zhendong for assisting in sampling.     

Determination of226Ra and uranium in fish samples from waters of the Grand Canyon by alpha spectroscopy without electrodeposition

A previous paper reported the application of a method for determining²²⁶Ra by -spectroscopy. This paper presents important improvements which permit the determination of²²⁶Ra in the presence of large amounts of Ca. The method was applied to the analysis of²²⁶Ra and U isotopes in fish samples from the waters of the Grand Canyon.²²⁶Ra ranged from 0.05 Bq kg^–1 /1.4 pCi kg^–1/ to 0.17 Bq k^–1 /4.7 pCi kg^–1/.²³⁸U values ranged from 0.13 Bq kg^–1 /3.5 pCi kg^–1/ to 0.52 Bq kg^–1 /14 pCi kg^–1/ and²³⁴U values were between 0.23 Bq kg^–1 /6.2 pCi kg^–1/ and 12 Bq kg^–1/ /326. pCi kg^–1/.     

Natural and Artificial Radionuclides in Selected Lignites from Istanbul

The radioactivity levels of Istanbul environs lignites were determined. The gamma-spectrometric technique has been used for the determination of activity levels of naturally occurring radionuclides ^235+238U, ^228+232Th, ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra and fallout radionuclides ¹³⁷Cs in lignites taken from 7 different parts of Istanbul. Concentration of ²³⁸U, ^228+232Th, ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra ¹³⁷Cs and ²³⁵U were found up to 1.6 ppm, 1.7 ppm, 4.9 ppm, 56.8 Bq/kg, 34 Bq/kg, 1.8 Bq/kg, 1.6 Bq/kg, respectively. In addition total alpha- and beta-activity levels in lignite samples were found to be 7.6 and 15 eps, respectively.     

Natural radioactivity of some local building materials in the middle Euphrates of Iraq

People are exposed to ionizing radiation from the radionuclides that are present in different types of a natural sources, of which building materials is one of the most important sources. Radionuclides in building materials belonging to ²³⁸U, ²³²Th series as well as radioisotope of Potassium ⁴⁰K are the major contributors of outdoor terrestrial natural radiation. This study is the first ever in Iraq. In order to estimate the radiological impact to the dweller, the activity concentration of radionuclides present in various Iraqi building materials were analyzed using Gamma-spectrometry. The radiation hazard indexes were calculated based on the above results. The results showed that the activity concentration of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K was between 32.9 Bq/kg (Najaf gypsum)–179.32 Bq/kg (Karbala cement), 1.98 Bq/kg (Najaf sand)–17.43 Bq/kg (Qadisiya brick) and 108.73 Bq/kg (Karbala sand)–977.79 Bq/kg (Najaf brick), respectively. All values of Radium equivalent activities were found to be less than the maximum permissible limit and the internal hazard indexes (except Karbala cement) were less than unity for the radiation hazard. Some samples have external annual dose and external hazard index values greater than unity.     

Evaluation of natural gamma radiation and absorbed gamma dose in soil and rocks of Perambalur district (Tamil Nadu,India)

The activity concentrations and absorbed gamma dose of primordial radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were determined employing γ-ray spectrometry in 31 soil samples from the land area earmarked for house construction in Perambalur district and 14 rock samples from quarries that supply stones for the entire district. The soil samples registered relatively a higher mean value of 13.2 Bq kg^?1 for ²³⁸U, 66 Bq kg^?1 for ²³²Th and 340.3 Bq kg^?1 for ⁴⁰K as compared to mean values for rock samples (²³⁸U—8.0 Bq kg^?1; ²³²Th—65.1 Bq kg^?1; ⁴⁰K—199.1 Bq kg^?1). The mean absorbed gamma dose rate for soil (61.4 nGy h^?1) marginally exceeded the prescribed limit of 55 nGy h^?1 while, rocks registered the mean absorbed gamma dose rate of 10.4 nGy h^?1. The mean radium equivalent activity was distinctly higher in soil (130.6 Bq kg^?1) than in rock (20.0 Bq kg^?1). However, these values were lower than the limit (370 Bq kg^?1) set by OECD for building materials. It is evident from the data that the soil and rocks do not pose any radiological risk for house constructions in Perambalur district.     

Investigation of radioactivity level in soil and drinking water samples collected from the city of Erzincan,Turkey

This study is part of an effort to assess the level of background radiation for Erzincan Province of eastern Turkey. Radionuclide activity concentrations in soil samples were measured through gamma-ray spectrometry and the average activities were determined as 8.93, 11.39, 281.94, and 9.52 Bq/kg for the radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs, respectively. The average annual effective dose from these natural radioactivity sources (²³⁸U series, ²³²Th series and ⁴⁰K,) was calculated to be 27.9 μSv. Radioactivity levels in drinking and potable water samples were studied using a multi-channel low level proportional counter. The average gross alpha activity concentration was found to be 0.0477 Bq/L (min. 0.007 Bq/L; max. 0.421 Bq/L) and the average gross beta activity was measured as 0.104 Bq/L (min. 0.008 Bq/L; max. 1.806 Bq/L). These values lead to an average annual effective dose of 9.75 μSv from the alpha emitters and 56.34 μSv from the beta emitting radionuclides in water. The radioactivity levels in the water samples investigated were found to comply with the reference levels recommended by WHO and the regulations set forth by the Turkish Health Ministry.     

Natural radiation distribution of soils at Kotagiri Taluk of the Nilgiris biosphere in India

The systematic study of background radiation and the distribution of radionuclides in the environment of Nilgiris biosphere in South India, have been carried out with an objective of establishing reliable baseline data on the background radiation level of the region. Soil samples have been collected at various places of Kotagiri taluk in Nilgiris biosphere and are analyzed for radioactivity measurements of primordial radionuclides by 3"×3" NaI(TI) gamma-ray spectrometer. It is observed that the average activity of ²³²Th series, ²³⁸U series and ⁴⁰K in soil samples is found to be 102 Bq^.kg^–1, 41 Bq^.kg^–1 and 229 Bq^.kg^–1, respectively which contributes to a total gamma-dose of 86 nGy^.h^–1. Results of this systematic investigation establish the existence of wide range of variation in ²³²Th series, ²³⁸U series and ⁴⁰K activities, which may be attributable to the existence of wide variety of lithological compounds in the zone under study. The ambient gamma-radiation dose measured is found to vary from 91 to 193 nGy^.h^–1 with a mean of 142.8 nGy^.h^–1. The measured ambient gamma-dose is more than 50% of the dose calculated from soil activities, which is due to the higher cosmic ray contribution to the total dose in the environment. The data is compared with different places around the world and the results are discussed in this paper     

Preliminary analyses of natural radionuclides in selected Turkish power plant lignites

This preliminary study presents the experimental results concerning the concentrations of selected radionuclides (²³⁸U, ²³²K, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th) in Af?in-Elbistan, Çan, Çay?rhan, Erzurum, Göynük, Kangal, Orhaneli, Saray, Seyitömer, Soma, Tunçbilek, Yata?an and Yeniköy lignites, which are primarily utilized as fuel for thermal power plants in Turkey. Gamma-spectrometry of 39 representative lignite samples gave results with the following concentration ranges: 8 to 296 Bq/kg for ²³⁸U, 3 to 79 Bq/kg for ²³²Th, 17 to 360 Bq/kg for 40K, and 5 to 130 Bq/kg for ²²⁶Ra. The ²³⁸U results reported here are higher than other literature values for various world coals, earth's crust and world average.     

Distribution of137Cs and228Ra in the sediments of Aswan High Dam lake

Sediment samples of the High Dam lake were investigated for their¹³⁷Cs,²²⁶Ra,²²⁸Th, and⁴⁰K content, using low-level -spectroscopy. The results show that at the begining of the lake (500 km from the High Dam), where sediments consist mostly of sand, the level of¹³⁷Cs is very low (0.1 Bq kg^–1). The maximum value (22.3 Bq kg^–1) was found 40 km from the wall of the High Dam, where the composition of the sediments is nearly 50% clays. The distribution of the natural nuclides²²⁶Ra,²²⁸Th, and⁴⁰K shows a different trend.     

Measurement of natural radioactivity and radiation hazard assessment in the soil samples of Visakhapatnam,Andhra Pradesh,India

The present work aims to measure and estimate radioactivity and hazardous radiation indices of the soil. Soil samples were collected from various locations in the Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh, India. The measurement of specific activity of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K radionuclides is carried out with the help of HP-Ge based gamma spectrometer system. Activity concentration of radionuclides in the samples ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K ranged from 20 ± 2 to 91 ± 2 Bq.kg^-1, 45 ± 3 to 365 ± 3 Bq.kg^-1, and 400 ± 9 to 607 ± 8 Bq.kg^-1, and the respective mean values are 53.36 Bq.kg^-1, 203.74 Bq.kg^-1 and 479.19 Bq.kg^-1. The measured mean value of the absorbed dose rate is 171.41 nGy.h^-1, which was beyond the worldwide mean outdoor value of 60 nGy.h^-1. Thus, the annual effective dose estimated from the above value is 1.04 mSv.y^-1. The correlation was done among the measured ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K activity concentrations. The estimated radium equivalent dose is 381.60Bq.kg^-1. The estimated health hazard index and annual effective dose rates of dwellers of Visakhapatnam were studied and compared to Indian average values. The study will help to generate the baseline data for assessing hazard indices to the public and geological mapping of natural radiation in India.     

Preliminary Analyses of Radionuclides in Afşin-Elbistan Lignite Samples

This preliminary study describes the concentration of radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ²²⁶Ra in Afin-Elbistan lignite samples which are primarily used for power generation in the Afin-Elbistan Coal-Fired Power Plant. The results show that the concentration of ²³⁸U is higher in the Afin-Elbistan lignite compared to various world coals whereas the opposite is observed with ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K.     

Determination of naturally occurring radionuclides in selected rocks from Hetaunda area,central Nepal

The specific activities of the naturally occurring radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were measured in rock samples from the Hetaunda area, central Nepal, using gamma spectrometry. The specific activities were found to be in the range of 17–95 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²³⁸U, 24–260 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²³²Th and 32–541 Bq kg⁻¹ for ⁴⁰K. From these data absorbed dose rates in air and annual effective doses were calculated and compared with respective data from the UNSCEAR compilation. The results from our study open the door to the safe applicability of most of the investigated materials as a cheep building material.     

Determination of131I,134Cs,137Cs in plants and cheese after Chernobyl accident in Roumania

Various samples from the south-east region of Roumania/greens, fodder, cheese/were analyzed for¹³¹I,¹³⁴Cs and¹³⁷Cs concentrations in May and July 1986 by -ray spectrometry. The concentrations are reported in nCi. kg^–1 wet weight. For greens, a considerable decrease was observed for¹³¹I/to 3.0–7.0 nCi. kg^–1/,¹³⁴Cs/to 0.5–2.0 nCi.kg^–1/ and¹³⁷Cs /to 1.0–4.0 nCi. kg^–1/ from the first half /5–15 May/ till the end of May 1986. For cheese, maximum values were measured between 5 and 15 May /sheep cottage cheese: 500–800 nCi.kg^–1 for¹³¹I, 25–50 nCi. kg^–1 for¹³⁴Cs, 40–80 nCi. kg^–1 for¹³⁷Cs/; at the beginning of July a considerable decrease /to 5–10 nCi. kg^–1 for¹³¹I, 1.2–2.0 nCi.kg^–1 for¹³⁴Cs, 2.2–3.0 nCi. kg^–1 for¹³⁷Cs/ was observed. In autumn 1986 a small increase up to 2.0–3.0 nCi. kg^–1 for¹³⁴Cs and 3.4–5.0 nCi. kg^–1 for¹³⁷Cs /in November/ was reported. The population's internal possible contamination was strongly limited by the authorities' severe control of the food-stuff.