title: Study of natural radioactivity in Mansehra granite, Pakistan: environmental concerns.
abstract: A part of Mansehra Granite was selected for the assessment of radiological hazards. The average activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K were found to be 27.32, 50.07 and 953.10 Bq kg(-1), respectively. These values are in the median range when compared with the granites around the world. Radiological hazard indices and annual effective doses were estimated. All of these indices were found to be within the criterion limits except outdoor external dose (82.38 nGy h(-1)) and indoor external dose (156.04 nGy h(-1)), which are higher than the world's average background levels of 51 and 55 nGy h(-1), respectively. These values correspond to an average annual effective dose of 0.867 mSv y(-1), which is less than the criterion limit of 1 mSv y(-1) (ICRP-103). Some localities in the Mansehra city have annual effective dose higher than the limit of 1 mSv y(-1). Overall, the Mansehra Granite does not pose any significant radiological health hazard in the outdoor or indoor.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Physics Laboratory, Physics Department, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Chak Shahzad, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aziz Ahmed
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Jadoon
authors.forename: Ali Abbas
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Wajid
authors.forename: Ahsan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Attique
authors.forename: Adil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masood
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anees
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manzoor
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waheed
authors.forename: Aneela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tubassam
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005720:Gamma Rays; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011874:Radiometry; D011883:Radium / Q000032:analysis*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013051:Spectrometry, Gamma / Q000379:methods*; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes; C007886:granite; D013910:Thorium; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011883:Radium