Determination of Natural Radioactivity and Associated Radiological Risk in Building Materials Used in Tabuk Area, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K in the commonly used building materials of Tabuk area, Saudi Arabia were measured using γ-ray spectrometry. The mean activity concentration with standard deviation was found to be 27.52±11.28, 37.44±14.51 and 175.52±113.87 Bqkg -1 and ranged from 11.11 to 52.58 Bqkg -1 , 10.99 to 59.72 Bqkg -1 , 60.70 to 394.46 Bqkg -1 for, 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K, respectively. The associated radiological hazards of natural radioactivity in the studied materials were evaluated by radium equivalent activity, external hazard index, internal hazard index, indoor air absorbed dose rate and annual effective dose rate. Basic statistics and frequency distributions for all radionuclides were used to describe the statistical characteristics of the radionuclide activities. This data will serve as the baseline level for naturally occurring radionuclides in the study area and will be useful for tracking and assessing any pollution inventory in the environment of this region.