Abstract
The results of the investigations of the activity concentration of natural radionuclides in certain building materials and foodstuff samples obtained from the Nurabad district of the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan are presented. The gamma radiation spectra of the samples were measured in Marinelli beaker geometry on γ- spectrometer with a Ge(Li) detector and energy resolution 6% on the 1332 keV line of 60Co. A personal computer and standard computer programs were used to accumulate and process the spectra. The characteristic density of the samples ranged from 140 to 1810 g/l. The activity concentration of 40K was observed to be comparatively higher than that of both 226Ra and 232Th in all the studied samples. The results reveal that the low activity of 137Cs in the samples is attributed due to its half-life decay period.
Highlights
The exposure of human beings to ionizing radiation from natural sources is a continuous and inevitable reality of life on Earth that can cause adverse biological consequences, such as DNA damage and cancer [1, 2, 3]
A total of four samples of building materials and three samples of three kinds were selected for the measurements of activity concentrations from the Nurabad district of Samarkand region, Uzbekistan
The radioactivity of the studied building materials is mainly due to gamma radiation generated by the decay of natural radionuclides 40K, 232Th, 226Ra, and partially 137Cs (Fig. 1.)
Summary
The exposure of human beings to ionizing radiation from natural sources is a continuous and inevitable reality of life on Earth that can cause adverse biological consequences, such as DNA damage and cancer [1, 2, 3]. The causes of radioactivity in the atmosphere are known to be from naturally occurring radioactive materials and are classified as being of terrestrial or cosmic origin [4] Radionuclides such as 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, 228Ra, 228Th, and 40K are the significant source of natural radiation exposure due to their natural occurrence in the Earth's crust or atmosphere. The study of radioactivity in the environment is useful in protecting human health and the environment from the adverse effects of ionizing radiation and is, of great importance [7]. Foodstuffs contain both natural and artificial radionuclides, which, after ingestion, can create a dose-effect [5]. In the construction of residential buildings, the study of the radiation characteristics of building materials is of considerable interest
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