Abstract
This research study aims at assessing the radiological hazards indices of materials used for the construction of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, a tertiary medical facility in Ogbomoso, South-West, Nigeria. The determination was sequel to the measurement of the radionuclide contents of the materials (Granite, Cement, Sand, and Concrete) used in the construction of the building, using a high-purity germanium detector gamma spectrometer. The natural radionuclides detected are traceable to the primordial series of 238 U and 232 Th as well as 40 K and traces of globally released 137 Cs. The specific activity values ranged between 27.79 and 30.65 Bq kg -1 with a mean of 29.22 Bq kg -1 for 238 U; while for 232 Th, the range was 16.69-22.73 Bq kg -1 with a mean of 19.71 Bq kg -1 . Relatively higher specific activity values were recorded in 40 K with a range of 132.76-276.42 Bq kg -1 , while the mean was 204.59 Bq kg -1 . However, a relatively low-specific radioactivity was obtained from 137 Cs with a range of 1.03-14.90 Bq kg -1 and a mean of 13.32 Bq kg -1 . All other values of other indicators were below the maximum permissible limit (MPL). The determination carried out prior to the building being occupied, showed no evidence of artificial radionuclide. Hence, the building materials may be considered safe for building construction and the values measured can therefore serve as reference for future measurement.
Highlights
Radionuclides are heavy isotopes in the environment that are not stable
This research study aims at assessing the radiological hazards indices of materials used for the construction of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, a tertiary medical facility in Ogbomoso, South-West, Nigeria
This work is aimed at determination of activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides in the building materials used in the construction of the teaching hospital of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
Summary
Radionuclides are heavy isotopes in the environment that are not stable. To be stable, these nuclides emit radiations or particles (Baxter, 1983). The radionuclides are present almost everywhere around us; in the Earth’s crust, air, water, plants and so on. They may be naturally occurring or artificially produced (Beretka et al, 1985). A number of radioactive materials occur naturally in the earth itself These radionuclides all have very long half lives and have been present in the earth since its formation (Martins & Harbinson, 1979). The examples include 238U (half life 4.5 × 109 y), 232Th (half life 1.4 × 1010 y) and 40K (half life 1.3 × 109 y) Occurring isotopes such as Uranium-238 and Thorium-232 are present in the earth’s crust producing Uranium and Thorium daughters. Radium is found at low level in the soil, water, rocks, coal plant and food
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