Environmental and radiation assessment of construction materials in Tyumen

Abstract

The current pace of construction leads to the use of large volumes of construction raw materials, which must meet the regulatory indicators, including radiation. High levels of natural radionuclide activity, both in construction and finishing materials, affect changes in the gamma radiation indicators in the premises, which can negatively affect the health of people living in such facilities. Ecological and radiation assessment of building materials for the content of natural radionuclides showed an increased natural activity of potassium-40. The maximum activity values were observed in samples of bricks and expanded clay, where they were 799,0 and 622,0 Bq/kg, respectively. The lowest specific activity of natural potassium was observed in the crushed stone sample (21,3 Bq/kg). The specific activity of thorium-232 in building materials ranged from 2,1 to 53,3 Bq/kg. The activity of radium-226 in all the studied samples ranged from 4,4 Bq/kg (crushed stone) to 55,6 Bq/kg (cement). The specific effective activity of natural radionuclides in the studied building materials does not exceed the standard values (370 Bq/kg), therefore, they can be used in all types of construction and reconstruction.