A new accurate and flexible index to assess the contribution of building materials to indoor gamma exposure.
The role of building materials as a source of gamma radiation has been recognized in the new EU Basic Safety Standards Directive which introduces an index I to screen building materials of radiological concern. This index was developed to account for average concrete values of thickness and density, the main structural characteristics of building materials that have an effect on gamma irradiation. Consequently, this screening procedure could be unfit in case of significantly different density and/or thickness of the building materials under examination. The paper proposes a more accurate and flexible activity concentration index, accounting for the actual density and thickness of building materials.
Department of Technology and Health, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Cristina
C
Nuccetelli
Department of Medicine, Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Italian National Workers Compensation Authority, Via Fontana Candida 1, I-00040, Monteporzio Catone, Rome, Italy.
Federica
F
Leonardi
Department of Medicine, Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Italian National Workers Compensation Authority, Via Fontana Candida 1, I-00040, Monteporzio Catone, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: r.trevisi@inail.it.
Rosabianca
R
Trevisi
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D000398:Air Pollution, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000032:analysis*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D000069079:Radiation Exposure; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*
Building materials; Radioactivity; Room model