Natural Radioactivity of Bricks in Historical Buildings in Slovakia

Abstract:

The occurrence of radionuclides in the raw materials from which the building materials are made is a potential radiation risk in buildings constructed from these materials. In this study, four historical buildings were investigated regarding the natural radioactivity of the used bricks. The gamma radiation was evaluated using the measured mass activities of the most important radionuclides and expressed by the gamma indexes (Iγ) and dose rates. The results proved that the activity concentrations of ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K radioisotopes in bricks are higher than worldwide values. Even though Iγ do not exceed the recommended value (Iγ ˂ 1), the absorbed dose rate for the structures in indoor air was calculated in the range 115.94-161.44 nGy/h which is twice the global average for this parameter.

• Periodical: International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa (Volume 47)
• Pages: 45-51
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/JERA.47.45
• Online since: March 2020
• Authors: Eva Singovszka*, Adriana Eštoková
• Keywords: Bricks, Historical Buildings, Natural Radioactivity, Radiological Indices

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