Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiological Hazards of Cement in Iraq

Zaki A. Mansoor; Takrid Muneam Nafae; Ali Kareem K. Jelaot

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11

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Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiological Hazards of Cement in Iraq

Zaki A. Mansoor, Takrid Muneam Nafae, Ali Kareem K. Jelaot

Published in Nuclear Science (Volume 3, Issue 2)

Received: 27 September 2018 Accepted: 10 October 2018 Published: 5 November 2018

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Abstract

Eight samples of cement were collected from different commercial factories (Al-Koufa, Al-Basra, Al-Najaf and Kerkouk factories) located in Iraq. They were analyzed using a gamma ray spectroscopy system. The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were ranged from 5.8 to 43.17 Bq kg^-1, from 0.99 to 55.79 Bq kg^-1 and from 53.28 to 185.34 Bq kg^-1, respectively. The potential radiological hazards were assessed by calculating the radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), the indoor absorbed gamma dose rate (D), the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), the alpha index (I_α), the gamma index (I_γ), and the external hazard (H_ex) and internal hazard (H_in) indices. The highest value of Ra_eq is estimated of 101.36 Bq kg^-1, which is significantly less than the upper limit of 370 Bq kg^-1. The estimated maximum value of the absorbed gamma dose rate of 54.71 nGy h^-1 is within the world average value of 55 nGy h^-1, and the annual effective dose equivalent in the studied samples were 0.05 (outdoor), 0.18 (indoor) mSv y^-1, which is lower than the recommended limit reported in the UNSCEAR (2000). The values of the hazard indices were below the recommended levels; therefore, the study shows that the measured radioactivity for cement does not pose as significant source of radiation hazard and is safe for use in the construction of dwellings.

Published in	Nuclear Science (Volume 3, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11
Page(s)	23-27
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2018. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Gamma Ray Spectroscopy, Building Materials, Hazard Index

References

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APA Style

Zaki A. Mansoor, Takrid Muneam Nafae, Ali Kareem K. Jelaot. (2018). Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiological Hazards of Cement in Iraq. Nuclear Science, 3(2), 23-27. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11

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ACS Style

Zaki A. Mansoor; Takrid Muneam Nafae; Ali Kareem K. Jelaot. Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiological Hazards of Cement in Iraq. Nucl. Sci. 2018, 3(2), 23-27. doi: 10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11

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AMA Style

Zaki A. Mansoor, Takrid Muneam Nafae, Ali Kareem K. Jelaot. Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiological Hazards of Cement in Iraq. Nucl Sci. 2018;3(2):23-27. doi: 10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11,
  author = {Zaki A. Mansoor and Takrid Muneam Nafae and Ali Kareem K. Jelaot},
  title = {Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiological Hazards of Cement in Iraq},
  journal = {Nuclear Science},
  volume = {3},
  number = {2},
  pages = {23-27},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ns.20180302.11},
  abstract = {Eight samples of cement were collected from different commercial factories (Al-Koufa, Al-Basra, Al-Najaf and Kerkouk factories) located in Iraq. They were analyzed using a gamma ray spectroscopy system. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were ranged from 5.8 to 43.17 Bq kg-1, from 0.99 to 55.79 Bq kg-1 and from 53.28 to 185.34 Bq kg-1, respectively. The potential radiological hazards were assessed by calculating the radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the indoor absorbed gamma dose rate (D), the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), the alpha index (Iα), the gamma index (Iγ), and the external hazard (Hex) and internal hazard (Hin) indices. The highest value of Raeq is estimated of 101.36 Bq kg-1, which is significantly less than the upper limit of 370 Bq kg-1. The estimated maximum value of the absorbed gamma dose rate of 54.71 nGy h-1 is within the world average value of 55 nGy h-1, and the annual effective dose equivalent in the studied samples were 0.05 (outdoor), 0.18 (indoor) mSv y-1, which is lower than the recommended limit reported in the UNSCEAR (2000). The values of the hazard indices were below the recommended levels; therefore, the study shows that the measured radioactivity for cement does not pose as significant source of radiation hazard and is safe for use in the construction of dwellings.},
 year = {2018}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiological Hazards of Cement in Iraq
AU  - Zaki A. Mansoor
AU  - Takrid Muneam Nafae
AU  - Ali Kareem K. Jelaot
Y1  - 2018/11/05
PY  - 2018
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11
T2  - Nuclear Science
JF  - Nuclear Science
JO  - Nuclear Science
SP  - 23
EP  - 27
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-4346
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11
AB  - Eight samples of cement were collected from different commercial factories (Al-Koufa, Al-Basra, Al-Najaf and Kerkouk factories) located in Iraq. They were analyzed using a gamma ray spectroscopy system. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were ranged from 5.8 to 43.17 Bq kg-1, from 0.99 to 55.79 Bq kg-1 and from 53.28 to 185.34 Bq kg-1, respectively. The potential radiological hazards were assessed by calculating the radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the indoor absorbed gamma dose rate (D), the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), the alpha index (Iα), the gamma index (Iγ), and the external hazard (Hex) and internal hazard (Hin) indices. The highest value of Raeq is estimated of 101.36 Bq kg-1, which is significantly less than the upper limit of 370 Bq kg-1. The estimated maximum value of the absorbed gamma dose rate of 54.71 nGy h-1 is within the world average value of 55 nGy h-1, and the annual effective dose equivalent in the studied samples were 0.05 (outdoor), 0.18 (indoor) mSv y-1, which is lower than the recommended limit reported in the UNSCEAR (2000). The values of the hazard indices were below the recommended levels; therefore, the study shows that the measured radioactivity for cement does not pose as significant source of radiation hazard and is safe for use in the construction of dwellings.
VL  - 3
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Zaki A. Mansoor

Radiation Protection Department, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, Iraq
Takrid Muneam Nafae

Radiation Protection Department, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, Iraq
Ali Kareem K. Jelaot

Nuclear Safety Department, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, Iraq

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APA Style

Zaki A. Mansoor, Takrid Muneam Nafae, Ali Kareem K. Jelaot. (2018). Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiological Hazards of Cement in Iraq. Nuclear Science, 3(2), 23-27. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11

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ACS Style

Zaki A. Mansoor; Takrid Muneam Nafae; Ali Kareem K. Jelaot. Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiological Hazards of Cement in Iraq. Nucl. Sci. 2018, 3(2), 23-27. doi: 10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11

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AMA Style

Zaki A. Mansoor, Takrid Muneam Nafae, Ali Kareem K. Jelaot. Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiological Hazards of Cement in Iraq. Nucl Sci. 2018;3(2):23-27. doi: 10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11,
  author = {Zaki A. Mansoor and Takrid Muneam Nafae and Ali Kareem K. Jelaot},
  title = {Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiological Hazards of Cement in Iraq},
  journal = {Nuclear Science},
  volume = {3},
  number = {2},
  pages = {23-27},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ns.20180302.11},
  abstract = {Eight samples of cement were collected from different commercial factories (Al-Koufa, Al-Basra, Al-Najaf and Kerkouk factories) located in Iraq. They were analyzed using a gamma ray spectroscopy system. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were ranged from 5.8 to 43.17 Bq kg-1, from 0.99 to 55.79 Bq kg-1 and from 53.28 to 185.34 Bq kg-1, respectively. The potential radiological hazards were assessed by calculating the radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the indoor absorbed gamma dose rate (D), the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), the alpha index (Iα), the gamma index (Iγ), and the external hazard (Hex) and internal hazard (Hin) indices. The highest value of Raeq is estimated of 101.36 Bq kg-1, which is significantly less than the upper limit of 370 Bq kg-1. The estimated maximum value of the absorbed gamma dose rate of 54.71 nGy h-1 is within the world average value of 55 nGy h-1, and the annual effective dose equivalent in the studied samples were 0.05 (outdoor), 0.18 (indoor) mSv y-1, which is lower than the recommended limit reported in the UNSCEAR (2000). The values of the hazard indices were below the recommended levels; therefore, the study shows that the measured radioactivity for cement does not pose as significant source of radiation hazard and is safe for use in the construction of dwellings.},
 year = {2018}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiological Hazards of Cement in Iraq
AU  - Zaki A. Mansoor
AU  - Takrid Muneam Nafae
AU  - Ali Kareem K. Jelaot
Y1  - 2018/11/05
PY  - 2018
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11
T2  - Nuclear Science
JF  - Nuclear Science
JO  - Nuclear Science
SP  - 23
EP  - 27
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-4346
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ns.20180302.11
AB  - Eight samples of cement were collected from different commercial factories (Al-Koufa, Al-Basra, Al-Najaf and Kerkouk factories) located in Iraq. They were analyzed using a gamma ray spectroscopy system. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were ranged from 5.8 to 43.17 Bq kg-1, from 0.99 to 55.79 Bq kg-1 and from 53.28 to 185.34 Bq kg-1, respectively. The potential radiological hazards were assessed by calculating the radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the indoor absorbed gamma dose rate (D), the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), the alpha index (Iα), the gamma index (Iγ), and the external hazard (Hex) and internal hazard (Hin) indices. The highest value of Raeq is estimated of 101.36 Bq kg-1, which is significantly less than the upper limit of 370 Bq kg-1. The estimated maximum value of the absorbed gamma dose rate of 54.71 nGy h-1 is within the world average value of 55 nGy h-1, and the annual effective dose equivalent in the studied samples were 0.05 (outdoor), 0.18 (indoor) mSv y-1, which is lower than the recommended limit reported in the UNSCEAR (2000). The values of the hazard indices were below the recommended levels; therefore, the study shows that the measured radioactivity for cement does not pose as significant source of radiation hazard and is safe for use in the construction of dwellings.
VL  - 3
IS  - 2
ER  -

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