Radiation hazard assessment: natural occurring radioactive material in bricks

Abstract

Abstract

This study focused on the activity concentration and radiation hazard assessment of radionuclide in bricks. The activity concentrations per unit of mass in the studied bricks ranged from 59.82 to 236.65 Bqkg-1 for Ra-226, from 66.29 to 185.4 Bqkg-1 for Th-232, and from 283.50 to 1599.67 Bqkg-1 for K-40. In terms of radiation hazard assessment, granite bricks exceeded the allowance limit stated by Nuclear Energy Agency – Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development (NEA-OECD) in radium equilibrium activity (Req), External Hazard Index (Hex), Internal Hazard Index (Hin) and Representative Level Index (Iγr). Thus, this has proof that the naturally occurring radionuclide materials present in the brick have a potential in effecting the dwellers health.

Abstrak

Kajian ini menumpukan kepada kepekatan radioaktiviti dan penilaian hazard sinaran radionuklid di dalam batu bata. Kepekatan radioaktiviti di dalam sampel batu-bata yang dikaji dikesan berada pada julat antara 59.82 hingga 236,65 Bqkg-1 untuk Ra-226, 66.29 hingga 185.4 Bqkg-1 untuk Th-232, dan 283.50 hingga 1.599,67 Bqkg-1 untuk K-40. Berdasarkan penilaian hazard sinaran, batu- bata granit dikesan telah melebihi had pelepasan yang telah ditetapkan oleh Nuclear Energy Agency – Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development (NEA-OECD) dalam  kesimbangan aktiviti radium (Req), Index Dedahan Luar (Hex), Index Dedahan Dalaman (Hin) and Index Purata Aras Perwakilan (Iγr). Hasil kajian ini telah menunjukkan bahan-bahan radionuklid semulajadi di dalam batu bata boleh memberi kesan buruk kepada kesihatan penghuni.