Viruthagiri G, Rajamannan B, Suresh Jawahar K
Department of Physics, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, 608 002, Tamilnadu, India.
Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2013 Dec;157(3):383-91. doi: 10.1093/rpd/nct149. Epub 2013 Jun 13.
Studies have been planned to obtain activity and associated radiation hazards in ceramic raw materials (quartz, feldspar, clay, zircon, kaolin, grog, alumina bauxite, baddeleyite, masse, dolomite and red mud) and end products (ceramic brick, glazed ceramic wall and floor tiles) as the activity concentrations of uranium, thorium and potassium vary from material to material. The primordial radionuclides in ceramic raw materials and end products are one of the sources of radiation hazard in dwellings made of these materials. By the determination of the activity level in these materials, the indoor radiological hazard to human health can be assessed. This is an important precautionary measure whenever the dose rate is found to be above the recommended limits. The aim of this work was to measure the activity concentration of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in ceramic raw materials and end products. The activity of these materials has been measured using a gamma-ray spectrometry, which contains an NaI(Tl) detector connected to multichannel analyser (MCA). Radium equivalent activity, alpha-gamma indices and radiation hazard indices associated with the natural radionuclides are calculated to assess the radiological aspects of the use of the ceramic end products as decorative or covering materials in construction sector. Results obtained were examined in the light of the relevant international legislation and guidance and compared with the results of similar studies reported in different countries. The results suggest that the use of ceramic end product samples examined in the construction of dwellings, workplace and industrial buildings is unlikely to give rise to any significant radiation exposure to the occupants.
由于陶瓷原材料（石英、长石、黏土、锆石、高岭土、熟料、氧化铝、铝土矿、斜锆石、泥料、白云石和赤泥）以及最终产品（陶瓷砖、釉面陶瓷墙地砖）中铀、钍和钾的活度浓度因材料而异，因此已计划开展相关研究，以获取这些材料中的放射性活度及相关辐射危害。陶瓷原材料和最终产品中的天然放射性核素是使用这些材料建造的住宅中辐射危害的来源之一。通过测定这些材料中的活度水平，可以评估室内辐射对人体健康的危害。每当发现剂量率高于推荐限值时，这都是一项重要的预防措施。这项工作的目的是测量陶瓷原材料和最终产品中镭 - 226、钍 - 232和钾 - 40的活度浓度。这些材料的活度已使用伽马射线能谱法进行测量，该方法包含一个与多道分析器（MCA）相连的碘化钠（铊）探测器。计算了与天然放射性核素相关的镭当量活度、α - 伽马指数和辐射危害指数，以评估将陶瓷最终产品用作建筑行业装饰或覆盖材料时的辐射方面情况。根据相关国际法规和指南对所得结果进行了审查，并与不同国家报道的类似研究结果进行了比较。结果表明，在住宅、工作场所和工业建筑建设中使用所检测的陶瓷最终产品样本，不太可能对居住者造成任何显著的辐射暴露。
