Natural radioactivity of some Spanish building materials.
The penetrating radiation from 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in conventional building materials has been measured by gamma spectrometry. A simple model is applied to the results to calculate the external radiation dose for people living in a typical Spanish house constructed with these materials. The radioactivity concentrations in the building materials were found to be similar to those reported for other countries. The average specific concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K for the total of 125 samples analyzed ranged from 5 to 421, 3 to 266 and 11 to 599 Bq kg-1, respectively. The results are examined in the light of standards for indoor exposure adopted by the Federal Republic of Germany and the criteria set up in the OECD/NEA Report, 1979.
Quindos
L S
LS
Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute, Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM 87185.
Newton
G J
GJ
Fernandez
P L
PL
Soto
J
J
D003252:Construction Materials; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D011883:Radium / Q000032:analysis; D013030:Spain; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis
D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes; D011868:Radioisotopes; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes; D011883:Radium