Assessment of the radiological impacts of utilizing coal combustion fly ash as main constituent in the production of cement.

The purpose of this study is to assess potential radiological impacts of utilizing pulverized fly ash (PFA) as a constituent in ordinary Portland cement. For this purpose, the activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th, and (40)K in samples of PFA and Portland cement containing 15%, 20%, and 25% by mass PFA were measured using gamma-ray spectrometry with HPGe detector. The mean activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th, and (40)K were found as 366.6, 113.7, and 460.2 Bq kg( - 1), 94.2, 25.9, and 215.3 Bq kg( - 1), 113.7, 34.3, and 238.3 Bq kg( - 1), and 124.2, 41.8, and 279.3 Bq kg( - 1) for the examined samples of PFA, Portland cement with 15%, 20%, and 25% by mass PFA, respectively. Radiological parameters such as radium equivalent activity, external exposure index (activity concentration index), internal dose index (alpha index), indoor absorbed gamma dose rate, and the corresponding the annually effective dose were assessed for Portland cement samples containing three percentages (15%, 20%, and 25%) by mass PFA. The results of assessment show that all Portland cement samples are within the safe limits recommended for building materials for dwellings.