Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Radiometric analysis of some building materials using gamma-ray spectrometry

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study focuses on the effect of natural radioactivity of some common building materials to humans. The main radiological risk assessment parameters such as radium equivalent, dose rate, annual effective dose equivalent and hazard indices were determined using Gamma ray spectrometry for individual building materials and their three different combinations. On comparing the results with world average values, it is inferred that the building materials do not pose any radiation hazards. Also as all the radiological parameters for M-sand are much lesser than that of river sand, it can be a good replacement for river sand.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Murugesan S, Mullainathan S, Ramasamy V, Meenakshisundaram V (2016) Environmental radioactivity, magnetic measurements and mineral analysis of major South Indian river sediments. J Mater Environ Sci 7(7):2375–2388

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Oladapo OO, Oni EA (2014) Activity concentration of gamma emitting natural radionuclides in building materials. J Nat Sci 4(23):1–4

    Google Scholar 

  3. Aydarous A, Zeghib S, Eldaghmah M (2011) Measurements of the natural radioactivity in building materials (raw and manufactured), other than granites in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Radiat Prot Environ 34(4):229. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-0464.106091

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Malanca A, Pessina V, Dallara G, Luce CN, Gaidolfi L (1995) Natural radioactivity in building materials from the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo. Appl Radiat Isot 46(12):1387–1392. https://doi.org/10.1016/0969-8043(95)00223-Z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Sofilić T, Barišić D, Sofilić U, Đuroković M (2011) Radioactivity of some building and raw materials used in Croatia. Pol J Chem Technol 13(3):23–27. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10026-011-0032-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Vanasundari K, Ravisankar R, Durgadevi D et al (2012) Measurement of natural radioactivity in building material used in Chengam of Tiruvannamalai District, Tamilnadu by Gamma-Ray Spectrometry. Indian J Adv Chem Sci 1:22–27

    Google Scholar 

  7. Al-Jundi J, Salah W, Bawa'aneh MS, Afaneh F (2005) Exposure to radiation from the natural radioactivity in Jordanian building materials. Radiat Prot Dosim 118(1):93–96. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/nci332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kovler K, Haquin G, Manasherov V, Ne'eman E, Lavi N (2002) Natural radionuclides in building materials available in Israel. Build Environ 37(5):531–537. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0360-1323(01)00048-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Lee EM, Menezes G, Finch EC (2004) Assessment of Natural Radioactivity in Irish Building Materials. In Proceedings of the 11th international congress of IRPA vol 23: No. 28.05

  10. Suresh G, Ramasamy V, Meenakshisundaram V et al (2011) A relationship between the natural radioactivity and mineralogical composition of the Ponnaiyar river sediments. India J Environ Radioact 102(4):370–377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.02.003

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Todorovic N, Bikit I, Krmar M et al (2015) Natural radioactivity in raw materials used in building industry in Serbia. Int J Environ Sci Technol 12(2):705–716. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-013-0470-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Pantelić GK, Todorović DJ, Nikolić JD, Rajačić MM, Janković MM, Sarap NB (2015) Measurement of radioactivity in building materials in Serbia. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 303(3):2517–2522. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3745-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Gnanasaravanan S, Rajkumar P (2013) Characterization of minerals in natural and manufactured sand in Cauvery River belt, Tamilnadu, India. Infrared Phys Technol 58:21–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infrared.2012.12.042

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Li B, Wang J, Zhou M (2009) Effect of limestone fines content in manufactured sand on durability of low-and high-strength concretes. Constr Build Mater 23(8):2846–2850. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2009.02.033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Nanthagopalan P, Santhanam M (2011) Fresh and hardened properties of self-compacting concrete produced with manufactured sand. Cement Concrete Comp 33(3):353–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2010.11.005

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Valan II, Vijayalakshmi I, Mathiyarasu R et al (2017) Influence of geochemical variation and heavy mineral component on primordial radionuclide presence in Tamiraparani River sediments. Environ Earth Sci 76(2):69. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6400-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Beretka J, Matthew PJ (1985) Natural radioactivity of Australian building materials, industrial wastes and by-products. Health Phys 48(1):87–95. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-198501000-00007

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Yu KN, Guan ZJ, Stokes MJ, Young ECM (1992) The assessment of the natural radiation dose committed to the Hong Kong people. J Environ Radioact 17:31–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/0265-931X(92)90033-P

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ziqiang P, Yin Y, Mingqiang G (1988) Natural radiation and radioactivity in China. Radiat Prot Dosim 24(1–4):29–38. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.rpd.a080236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Flores OB, Estrada AM, Suarez RR et al (2008) Natural radionuclide content in building materials and gamma dose rate in dwellings in Cuba. J Environ Radioact 99(12):1834–1837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.08.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Khandaker MU, Jojo PJ, Kassim HA, Amin YM (2012) Radiometric analysis of construction materials using HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry. Radiat Prot Dosim 152(1–3):33–37. https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncs145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Khalil MI, Majumder RK, Kabir MZ et al (2016) Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and identification of minerals in Brahmaputra (Jamuna) river sand and sediment. Bangladesh Radiat Prot Environ 39(4):204. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-0464.199980

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. UNSCEAR (2000) United Nations scientific committee on the effect of atomic radiation. Sources and effects of ionizing radiation report to general assembly, with scientific annexes. United Nations, New York

    Google Scholar 

  24. Jeevarenuka K, Pillai GS, Hameed PS, Mathiyarasu R (2014) Evaluation of natural gamma radiation and absorbed gamma dose in soil and rocks of Perambalur district Tamil Nadu. India J Radioanal Nucl Chem 302(1):245–252. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3222-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ravisankar R, Vanasundari K, Chandrasekaran A, Suganya M, Eswaran P, Vijayagopal P, Meenakshisundaram V (2011) Measurement of natural radioactivity in brick samples of Namakkal, Tamilnadu, India using gamma-ray spectrometry. Arch Phys Res 2(2):95–99

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Viruthagiri G, Ponnarasi K (2011) Measurement of natural radio activity in brick samples. Adv Appl Sci Res 2(2):103–108

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Ramasamy V, Suresh G, Meenakshisundaram V, Ponnusamy V (2011) Horizontal vertical characterization of radionuclides and minerals in river sediments. Appl Radiat Isot 69(1):184–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2010.07.020

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Raghu Y, Ravisankar R, Chandrasekaran A, Vijayagopal P, Venkatraman B (2017) Assessment of natural radioactivity and radiological hazards in building materials used in the Tiruvannamalai District, Tamilnadu, India, using a statistical approach. J Taibah Univ Sci 11(4):523–533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtusci.2015.08.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Financial support from Board of Research and Nuclear Sciences- Department of Atomic Energy (BRNS-DAE), Trombay, India for purchase of equipment to carry out the experimental work is greatly appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, SSN College of Engineering (Autonomous), Kalavakkam, Tamil Nadu, 603110, India

    V. Thangam, A. Rajalakshmi, A. Chandrasekaran & B. Jananee

Authors
  1. V. Thangam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Rajalakshmi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Chandrasekaran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. Jananee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. Thangam.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Thangam, V., Rajalakshmi, A., Chandrasekaran, A. et al. Radiometric analysis of some building materials using gamma-ray spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 324, 1059–1067 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07175-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07175-9

Keyword

Search

Navigation