Radiation exposure to dwellers due to naturally occurring radionuclides found in selected commercial building materials sold in Nigeria

Omeje, Maxwell and Adewoyin, O.O and Joel, E. S. and Ehi-Eromosele, C. O. and Akinwumi, S. A. and Usikalu, M.R. and Emenike, PraiseGod C and Embong, Z. and Hassaina, M. (2018) Radiation exposure to dwellers due to naturally occurring radionuclides found in selected commercial building materials sold in Nigeria. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences. pp. 1-7.

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Abstract

The activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40 K was measured in commonly building materials used in Nigeria from commercial supplier using High Purity Germanium Gamma (HPGe) detector. The mean activity concentrations in the samples were found to be 51.5 ± 9.3, 72.46 ± 17.65 and 217.05 ± 44.31 Bqkg�1 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40 K respectively. The highest radium equivalent (Raeq) of 273.9 Bqkg�1 was noted in Perfect Superfix White Cement (Nigeria) but found to be < 370 Bqkg�1 as the recommended dose limiting safe value for bulk media as presumed, the highest value of internal hazard index (Hin) and external hazard index (Hex) of 0.894 and 0.744 respectively were also < 1. The absorbed dose rate (DR) with a value of 122.52 nGyh�1 noted in ceramic tile sample is higher than the weighted population world average value of 80 nGyh�1 by a factor of 1.53. The highest annual effective dose rate (AEDR) of 0.601 mSvy�1 reported in PNT ceramics but was found to be less < 1 mSvy�1. The investigated materials have the values of Hin, Hex and AEDR greater than 0.5 but less than1, showing that the dose impact exceeds the exemption dose level of 0.3 mSvy�1 for AEDR but complies to the upper limit of dose principle of 1 mSvy�1

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Radium equivalent Gamma spectrometry Radiological risks Tiles Marbles and sand
Subjects:	Q Science > QC Physics Q Science > QD Chemistry T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Engineering, Science and Mathematics > School of Chemistry Faculty of Engineering, Science and Mathematics > School of Civil Engineering and the Environment Faculty of Engineering, Science and Mathematics > School of Physics
Depositing User:	Mrs Patricia Nwokealisi
Date Deposited:	23 Apr 2018 15:44
Last Modified:	23 Apr 2018 15:44
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/10665

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