title: Radiometric analysis of construction materials using HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry.
abstract: Concentrations of primordial radionuclides in common construction materials collected from the south-west coastal region of India were determined using a high-purity germanium gamma-ray spectrometer. Average specific activities (Bq kg(-1)) for (238)U((226)Ra) in cement, brick, soil and stone samples were obtained as 54 ± 13, 21 ± 4, 50 ± 12 and 46 ± 8, respectively. Respective values of (232)Th were obtained as 65 ± 10, 21 ± 3, 58 ± 10 and 57 ± 12. Concentrations of (40)K radionuclide in cement, brick, soil and stone samples were found to be 440 ± 91, 290 ± 20, 380 ± 61 and 432 ± 64, respectively. To evaluate the radiological hazards, radium equivalent activity, various hazard indices, absorbed dose rate and annual effective dose have been calculated, and compared with the literature values. Obtained data could be used as reference information to assess any radiological contamination due to construction materials in future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. mu_khandaker@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Khandaker
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jojo
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kassim
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Amin
mesh_terms: D003252:Construction Materials / Q000032:analysis; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods; D011883:Radium / Q000032:analysis; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis; D013051:Spectrometry, Gamma / Q000379:methods*; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes; D011868:Radioisotopes; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D014501:Uranium; D013910:Thorium; D011883:Radium