title: Determination of natural radioactivity in building materials used in Tunisian dwellings by gamma ray spectrometry.
abstract: The radioisotopic content of 17 samples of natural and manufactured building materials collected in Tunisia have been analysed by using gamma spectrometry. From the measured gamma ray spectra, activity concentrations are determined for (232)Th, (226)Ra, (235)U and (40)K. The total effective dose and the activity concentration index are calculated applying the dose criteria recommended by the European Union for building materials. The results of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K found in Tunisian building materials indicate that radium and thorium concentrations do not exceed 40 Bq kg(-1), but potassium concentration varies between 50 and 1215 Bq kg(-1). The total effective dose rates per person indoors are determined to be between 0.07 and 0.86 mSv y(-1). Only two materials exceed the reference level of 0.3 mSv y(-1). The activity concentration index is <1.
authors.affiliation: Département de Physique, Faculté des Sciences, Boulevard de l'environnement, Monastir 5019, Tunisia. neila_tn2002@yahoo.com
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hizem
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Fredj
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ghedira
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D001417:Background Radiation; D001822:Body Burden; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013051:Spectrometry, Gamma / Q000379:methods*; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes