Measurement of Alpha Radioactivity in Some Building Construction Materials

Abstract

Natural radioactivity is wide spread in the earth's environment and it exists in various geological formations in soils, rocks, plants, water and air. The growing worldwide interest in natural radiation exposure has lead to extensive surveys in many countries. The building materials like bricks, concrete, sand, cement etc. are earth based, containing uranium and thorium in varying amounts which are the biggest inescapable sources of natural ionizing radiation for human exposure. In the present investigation, the alpha radioactivity from radon emanated from some building construction materials viz; stones, soil, cement and fly ash has been estimated using alpha sensitive LR-115 type II plastic track detectors. Based upon the data, the mass and the surface exhalation rates of radon emanated from them have also been calculated.