Assessment of N
Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and
Associated Radiation Hazards of Building Materials used in Saudi Arabia
W.R. Alharbi, J.H.
AlZahrani
Physics Department, Faculty
of Science for Girls, king AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Abstract: In
order to assess the radiological hazards to human health in a living
environment, the level of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th
and 40K) present in various building materials available in
Saudi Arabia (Jeddah city) analayzed using Gamma-ray spectrometry. The
results showed that the activity concentration of 226Ra ,232Th
and 40K was between 12.6 Bq/kg (Brick- clay) –31.5 Bq/kg
(Granite), 9.2Bq/kg (Brick-clay) - 27.2Bq/kg (Granite) and 114.4Bq/kg (Brick-clay)
–534.7Bq/kg (Granite), respectively. The radiological hazard parameters radium
equivalent activity, gamma index, absorbed dose rate and the annual exposure
rate, were calculated to assess the radiation hazards associated with Saudian
buildings. All studied samples are lower than world average limits. The results
are compared with the published data of other countries and with the world
average limits. The measurements help in the development of standards and
guidelines for the use and management of building materials.
[W.R. Alharbi, J.H. AlZahrani. Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels
and Associated Radiation Hazards of Building Materials used in Saudi Arabia. J Am Sci 2012;8(10):651-656]. (ISSN:
1545-1003).http://www.jofamericanscience.org. 88
Keywords: Natural activity, Gamma spectroscopy, Building
material. Full Text 88
