Measurements of the natural radioactivity in building materials (raw and manufactured), other than granites in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

In this work, we have measured the natural radioactivity contents of the building materials (raw and manufactured) using HPGe detector. The intensities of γ-ray emitted by radioactive nuclides present in the samples were determined. Efficiencies of the detector at different energies were determined using standard sources, so that radioactivity content of the samples can be estimated. Samples from different areas in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were collected. These samples were prepared in the form of fine powder suitable to be used by Marinelli beakers. Software equipped with the detector electronic system had been used to analyze the data; hence the results were recorded. The highest measured activity concentrations in the samples are: 48, 42, and 971 Bq/kg for 232 Th, 226 Ra, and 40 K, respectively, which are in the range of the corresponding typical worldwide values. The absorbed dose rates, effective dose rates, radium equivalent activities as well as the radiation hazard indices were estimated. The maximum radium equivalent activity (Ra eq ) was 186 Bq/kg, which is lower than the limit of 370 Bq/kg set by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.