Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Semi-experimental evaluation for radon exhalation rate and excess lifetime cancer risk from potential radon exposure for using fly ash building materials

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

Abstract

In this work, the radon exhalation, annual effective dose and excess lifetime cancer risks due to the exposure of radon released from raw building materials containing fly ash of different fractions were evaluated. The 226Ra and 222Rn concentrations were evaluated by the measurements on HPGe gamma spectrometer, RAD 7 radon detector combined with model calculation of radon exhalation for standard rooms. The results indicated that the emanation fraction for fly ash is lower than the corresponding value for soils and rocks. The surveyed building materials of containing fly ash can result in an indoor radon concentration up to 1.7 Bq m−3 which is below the recommended value of 100 Bq m−3 by WHO, the annual effective dose increases from 0.007 to 0.022 mSv year−1, the excess lifetime cancer risks ranges from 0.027 × 10–3 to 0.085 × 10–3 with the ratio of 3.2 for the additional fly ash content in cement up to 75%. In the meanwhile, it has a down trend and influences inconsiderably on these parameters for sand. The obtained mean annual effective doses are lower than the dose limitation of 10 mSv year−1 recommended for occupational workers.

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.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Asaduzzaman K, Mannan F, Khandaker MU, Farook MS, Elkezza A, Amin YBM, Sharma S, Kassim HBA (2015) Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and potential radiological risks of common building materials used in Bangladeshi dwellings. PLoS ONE 10(10):e0140667

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Battaglia A, Capra D, Queirazza G, Sampaolo A (1992) Radon exhalation from building materials and fly ash-containing concretes. IRPA8 Congress in Montreal. Quebec 2:1578–1581

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bhangare RC, Tiwari M, Ajmal PY, Sahu SK, Pandit GG (2014) Distribution of natural radioactivity in coal and combustion residues of thermal power plants. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 300:17–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Blissett RS, Rowson NA (2012) A review of the multi-component utilisation of coal fly ash. Fuel 97:1–23

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bossew P (2003) The radon emanation power of building materials, soils, and rocks. Appl Radiat Isot 59:389–392

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. British Standard (2005) Measurement of radioactivity in the environment—soil. BS ISO 18589-1, UK

  7. Canberra Industries, Inc. (2004) Genie 2000 version 3.0—customization tools manual. Canberra Industries, Inc., USA

  8. Chauhan RP (2011) Radon exhalation rates from stone and soil samples of Aravali hills in India. Iran J Radiat Res 9(1):57–61

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gupta M, Mahur AK, Sonkawade RG, Verma KD, Prasad R (2010) Measurement of radon activity, exhalation rate and radiation doses in fly ash sample from NTPC, Dadri, India. Indian J Pure Appl Phys 48:520–523

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. He DL, Yin G, Dong F, Liu L, Lou Y (2010) Research on the additives to reduce radioactive pollutants in the building materials containing fly ash. J Hazard Mater 177(1–3):573–581

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Ishimori Y, Lange K, Martin P, Mayya YS, Phaneuf M (2013) Measurement and calculation of radon releases from NORM residues, IAEA technical reports series, no. 474

  12. ICRP (1990) Recommendations of the International Commission on radiological protection, 21. ICRP Publication 60, Pergamon, pp 1–3

    Google Scholar 

  13. ICRP (1993) Protection against radon-222 at home and at work. ICRP Publication 65, Pergamon

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kant K, Chakarvarti SK (2003) Environmental impact of coal utilisation in thermal power plant. J Punjab Acad For Med Toxicol 3:15–18

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kant K, Rashmi KS, Sonkawade RG, Chauhan RP, Chakarvarti SK, Shama GS (2010) Radon activity and exhalation rates in Indian fly ash samples. Indian J Pure Appl Phys 48:457–462

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kovler K (2012) Does the utilization of coal fly ash in concrete construction present a radiation hazard? Constr Build Mater 29:158–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Kovler K (2017) The national survey of natural radioactivity in concrete produced in Israel. J Environ Radioact 68:46–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Labrincha J, Puertas JF, Schroeyers W, Kovler K, Pontikes Y, Nuccetelli C, Krivenko P, Kovalchuk O, Petropavlovsky O, Komljenovic M, Fidanchevski E, Wiegers R, Volceanov E, Gunay E, Sanjuan MA, Ducman V, Angjusheva B, Bajare D, Kovacs T, Bator G, Schreurs S, Aguiar J, Provis JL (2017) From NORM by-products to building materials. Chapter 7. In: Schroeyers W (ed) Naturally occurring radioactive materials in construction, Integrating Radiation Protection in Reuse (COST Action Tu1301 NORM4BUILDING). Woodhead Publishing, Sawston, pp 183–251

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lawi DJ, Ali Abid Abojassim AA (2018) Estimated the cancer risk due to ingestion of radon, radium, and uranium from medical drugs in Iraq. Int J Adv Sci Eng Technol 6(2):54–60

    Google Scholar 

  20. Le NS, Nguyen TB, Truong Y, Nguyen TN, Nguyen TL, Nguyen VP, Nguyen DT, Nguyen KT, Tran DK (2011) Natural radioactivity in commonly building materials used in Vietnam-11255. In: WM2011 conference, Feb 27–Mar 3, Phoenix, AZ

  21. Lei X, Qi G, Sun Y, Xu H, Wang Y (2014) Removal of uranium and gross radioactivity from coal bottom ash by CaCl2 roasting followed by HNO3 leaching. J Hazard Mater 276:346–352

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Loan TTH, Ba VN, Bang NVT, Thy THN, Hong HTY, Huy NQ (2018) Natural radioactivity and radiological health hazard assessment of chemical fertilizers in Viet Nam. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 316(1):111–117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Man CK, Yeung HS (1997) The effects of using pulverized fuel ash as partial substitute for cement in concrete. Sci Total Environ 196(2):171–176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Mann HS, Brar GS, Mudahar GS (2016) Gamma-ray shielding effectiveness of novel light-weight clay-fly ash bricks. Radiat Phys Chem 127:97–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Maslov OD, Tserenpil Sh, Norov N, Gustova MV, Filippov M, Belov AG, Altangerel M, Enhbat N (2010) Uranium recovery from coal ash dumps of Mongolia. Solid Fuel Chem 44(6):433–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Pepin S (2018) Using RESRAD-BUILD to assess the external dose from the natural radioactivity of building materials. Constr Build Mater 168:1003–1007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Taylor-Lange SC, Stewart JG, Juenger MCG, Siegel JA (2012) The contribution of fly ash toward indoor radon pollution from concrete. Build Environ 56:276–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Taylor-Lange SC, Juenger MCG, Siegel JA (2014) Radon emanation fractions from concretes containing fly ash and metakaolin. Sci Total Environ 466-467C:1060–1065

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Temuujin J, Surenjav E, Ruscher CH, Vahlbruch J (2019) Processing and uses of fly ash addressing radioactivity (critical review). Chemophere 216:866–882

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Sahu SK, Bhangare RC, Ajmal PY, Pandit GG (2016) Evaluation of the radiation dose due to the use of fly ash from thermal power plants as a building material. Radioprotection 51(2):135–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Sakoda A, Ishimori Y, Yamaok K (2011) A comprehensive review of radon emanation measurements for mineral, rock, soil, mill tailing and fly ash. Appl Radiat Isot 69(10):1422–1435

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Siotis I, Wrixon AD (1984) Radiological consequences of the use of fly ash in building materials in Greece. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 7(1–4):101–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. UNSCEAR (2000) United Nations Scientific Committee on the effects of atomic radiation, sources and effects of ionizing radiation. United Nations, New York

  34. UNSCEAR (2008) United Nations Scientific Committee on the effects of atomic radiation. Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. Report to General Assembly, Annex B. United Nations, New York

  35. WHO (2009) Handbook on indoor radon: a public health perspective. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  36. Zacco A, Borgese L, Gianoncelli A, Struis RPWJ, Depero LE, Bontempi E (2014) Review of fly ash inertisation treatments and recycling. Environ Chem Lett 12:153–175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research is granted by National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (Nafosted) under the Number 103.04-2018.61. Our Nuclear Technique Laboratory (NTLab) was invested by Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Prof. Dr. Sc. Nguyen Ngoc Tran, Dr. Le Xuan Thuyen and the Board of Directors of the EVN Group, the Board of Directors of Vinh Tan 2 CFPP for sampling in the inner area and the disposal area of the CFPP.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Technique Laboratory, VNUHCM - University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Ba Ngoc Vu, Phong Thu Nguyen Huynh, Hao Cong Le & Hong Loan Thi Truong

  2. Department of Nuclear Physics - Nuclear Engineering, Faculty of Physics and Engineering Physics, VNUHCM - University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Thien Ngoc Bui, Hao Cong Le, Phuong Truc Huynh & Hong Loan Thi Truong

  3. Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Ba Ngoc Vu, Thien Ngoc Bui, Phong Thu Nguyen Huynh, Hao Cong Le, Phuong Truc Huynh & Hong Loan Thi Truong

Authors
  1. Ba Ngoc Vu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thien Ngoc Bui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Phong Thu Nguyen Huynh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hao Cong Le
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Phuong Truc Huynh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hong Loan Thi Truong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hong Loan Thi Truong.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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

Vu, B.N., Bui, T.N., Huynh, P.T.N. et al. Semi-experimental evaluation for radon exhalation rate and excess lifetime cancer risk from potential radon exposure for using fly ash building materials. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 326, 975–981 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07377-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07377-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation