Assessment of natural radioactivity (40K, 238U and 232Th) and radiological risk in building construction materials: the case of Benin hill granites
Continuous exposure to ionizing radiation can have harmful effects on human health. In this respect, a study was carried out in the Communes of Dassa-zoume and Glazoue to determine the levels of 40K, 238U and 232Th in granites and sand. The specific activities obtained made it possible to assess the...
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Brazilian Radiation Protection Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Proteção Radiológica, SBPR)
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://bjrs.org.br/revista/index.php/REVISTA/article/view/2530 |
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| author | Mahougnon Zinsou Naivo Naivo RABESIRANANA Daton MEDENOU Martin RASOLONIRINA Bertin Bertin GBAGUIDI Guy MENSAH |
| author_facet | Mahougnon Zinsou Naivo Naivo RABESIRANANA Daton MEDENOU Martin RASOLONIRINA Bertin Bertin GBAGUIDI Guy MENSAH |
| author_sort | Mahougnon Zinsou |
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| description | Continuous exposure to ionizing radiation can have harmful effects on human health. In this respect, a study was carried out in the Communes of Dassa-zoume and Glazoue to determine the levels of 40K, 238U and 232Th in granites and sand. The specific activities obtained made it possible to assess the possible radiological risks associated with the resident population. During sampling work in November 2022, twelve granite samples were taken from twelve quarries. In addition, a sand sample was collected in Cotonou for comparison. All samples were then sent to the INSTN-Madagascar laboratory for gamma-ray spectrometry analysis using a NaI(TI) detector. The results show that the average specific activities of 40K, 238U and 232Th in the granites are (1329 ± 128) Bq.kg-1, (44 ± 11) Bq.kg-1 and (129 ± 44) Bq.kg-1 respectively. Those in sand are (144 ± 8) Bq.kg-1, (30 ± 2) Bq.kg-1 and (56 ± 7) Bq.kg-1 respectively. The average equivalent radium activity is (330 ± 74) Bq.kg-1 versus (122 ± 10) Bq.kg-1 for sand. The mean gamma index for granite was (1.2 ± 0.3), compared with (0.43 ± 0.03) for sand. The average absorbed dose rate in air is (153.4 ± 9.4) nGy.h-1 versus (53.7 ± 5.1) nGy.h-1 for sand. For adults, for 80% building occupancy factor, the mean annual indoors and outdoors effective dose (E) inside a building are (0.75 ± 0.05) mSv.y-1 and (0.19 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 versus (0.26 ± 0.05) mSv.y-1 and (0.07 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 for sand. For 60% factor, the means are (0.56 ± 0.03) mSv.y-1 and (0.38 ± 0.02) mSv.y-1 versus (0.20 ± 0.01) and (0.13 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 for sand. For the children, for a building occupancy factor of 80%, the average E are (0.86 ± 0.05) mSv.y-1 and (0.21 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 versus (0.30 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 and (0.08 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 for sand respectively for indoors and outdoors. For infants, the E are (1.00 ± 0.06) mSv.y-1 and (0.25 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 versus (0.35 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 and (0.09 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 for sand respectively for indoors and outdoors. For children, for a building occupancy factor of 60%, the average E are (0.64 ± 0.03) mSv.y-1 and (0.43 ± 0.02) mSv.y-1 versus (0.23 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 and (0.15 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 for sand respectively indoors and outdoors. For infants, for a building occupancy factor of 60%, the E are (0.75 ± 0.05) mSv.y-1 and (0.50 ± 0.02) mSv.y-1 versus (0.26 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 and (0.18 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 for sand respectively indoors and outdoors. For adults, the excess lifetime cancer risk at age 66 for a total annual effective dose induced by granite is (3.1 ± 0.01).10-3 versus (1.1 ± 0.01).10-3 for sand. For the children and infants, the average ELCR is (3.5 ± 0.01)E-3 and (4.1 ± 0.01)E-3 versus (1.2 ± 0.01)E-3 and (1.4 ± 0.01)E-3 for sand respectively. Statistical analysis of the data was performed with Python 3.11 and R 4.3.2 on the Spyder and studio interface. The p-value is < 0.001 compared with the UNSCEAR reference value for absorbed dose rate in air, effective dose and excess risk, which are 84 nGy.h-1, 0.48 mSv.y-1 and 0.29.10-3. This shows that the granites in the quarries studied present a radiological risk when used as building materials and need specific radiation protection measures for his users. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8ed0ed87355e4a9d9f823be76af93a96 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2319-0612 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Brazilian Radiation Protection Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Proteção Radiológica, SBPR) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-8ed0ed87355e4a9d9f823be76af93a962025-08-20T02:39:12ZengBrazilian Radiation Protection Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Proteção Radiológica, SBPR)Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences2319-06122024-11-01124e2530e253010.15392/2319-0612.2024.25302155Assessment of natural radioactivity (40K, 238U and 232Th) and radiological risk in building construction materials: the case of Benin hill granitesMahougnon Zinsou0Naivo Naivo RABESIRANANA1Daton MEDENOU2Martin RASOLONIRINA3Bertin Bertin GBAGUIDI4Guy MENSAH5Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey-Calavi (EPAC), Unité de Recherche en Radiosensibilité et Radiocarcinogénèse et la Morphologie Humaines du Laboratoire de Recherche en Biologie Appliquée (URRMH/LARBA), Ecole Doctorale des Sciences de l’Ingénieur (ED-SDI)Applied Nuclear Physics and Environment, National Institute of Science and Nuclear Technical, University of Antananarivo, Faculty of Science, BP 906-101 Antananarivo, Republic of Madagascar.ED-SDI/EPAC/UAC & URGB/LETIA/EPAC/UAC, 01 BP 2009 Cotonou, Republic of Benin.National Institute of Science and Nuclear Technical,ED-SDI/EPAC/UAC, URGB/LETIA/EPAC/UAC & URRMH/LARBA/EPAC/UAC, 01 BP 2009 Cotonou, Republic of Benin.National Institute for Agricultural Research of Benin, 01 BP 884 Main revenue Cotonou 01, Republic of Benin.Continuous exposure to ionizing radiation can have harmful effects on human health. In this respect, a study was carried out in the Communes of Dassa-zoume and Glazoue to determine the levels of 40K, 238U and 232Th in granites and sand. The specific activities obtained made it possible to assess the possible radiological risks associated with the resident population. During sampling work in November 2022, twelve granite samples were taken from twelve quarries. In addition, a sand sample was collected in Cotonou for comparison. All samples were then sent to the INSTN-Madagascar laboratory for gamma-ray spectrometry analysis using a NaI(TI) detector. The results show that the average specific activities of 40K, 238U and 232Th in the granites are (1329 ± 128) Bq.kg-1, (44 ± 11) Bq.kg-1 and (129 ± 44) Bq.kg-1 respectively. Those in sand are (144 ± 8) Bq.kg-1, (30 ± 2) Bq.kg-1 and (56 ± 7) Bq.kg-1 respectively. The average equivalent radium activity is (330 ± 74) Bq.kg-1 versus (122 ± 10) Bq.kg-1 for sand. The mean gamma index for granite was (1.2 ± 0.3), compared with (0.43 ± 0.03) for sand. The average absorbed dose rate in air is (153.4 ± 9.4) nGy.h-1 versus (53.7 ± 5.1) nGy.h-1 for sand. For adults, for 80% building occupancy factor, the mean annual indoors and outdoors effective dose (E) inside a building are (0.75 ± 0.05) mSv.y-1 and (0.19 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 versus (0.26 ± 0.05) mSv.y-1 and (0.07 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 for sand. For 60% factor, the means are (0.56 ± 0.03) mSv.y-1 and (0.38 ± 0.02) mSv.y-1 versus (0.20 ± 0.01) and (0.13 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 for sand. For the children, for a building occupancy factor of 80%, the average E are (0.86 ± 0.05) mSv.y-1 and (0.21 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 versus (0.30 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 and (0.08 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 for sand respectively for indoors and outdoors. For infants, the E are (1.00 ± 0.06) mSv.y-1 and (0.25 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 versus (0.35 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 and (0.09 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 for sand respectively for indoors and outdoors. For children, for a building occupancy factor of 60%, the average E are (0.64 ± 0.03) mSv.y-1 and (0.43 ± 0.02) mSv.y-1 versus (0.23 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 and (0.15 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 for sand respectively indoors and outdoors. For infants, for a building occupancy factor of 60%, the E are (0.75 ± 0.05) mSv.y-1 and (0.50 ± 0.02) mSv.y-1 versus (0.26 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 and (0.18 ± 0.01) mSv.y-1 for sand respectively indoors and outdoors. For adults, the excess lifetime cancer risk at age 66 for a total annual effective dose induced by granite is (3.1 ± 0.01).10-3 versus (1.1 ± 0.01).10-3 for sand. For the children and infants, the average ELCR is (3.5 ± 0.01)E-3 and (4.1 ± 0.01)E-3 versus (1.2 ± 0.01)E-3 and (1.4 ± 0.01)E-3 for sand respectively. Statistical analysis of the data was performed with Python 3.11 and R 4.3.2 on the Spyder and studio interface. The p-value is < 0.001 compared with the UNSCEAR reference value for absorbed dose rate in air, effective dose and excess risk, which are 84 nGy.h-1, 0.48 mSv.y-1 and 0.29.10-3. This shows that the granites in the quarries studied present a radiological risk when used as building materials and need specific radiation protection measures for his users.https://bjrs.org.br/revista/index.php/REVISTA/article/view/2530effective doseradionuclidespecific activityexcess lifetime cancer risk |
| spellingShingle | Mahougnon Zinsou Naivo Naivo RABESIRANANA Daton MEDENOU Martin RASOLONIRINA Bertin Bertin GBAGUIDI Guy MENSAH Assessment of natural radioactivity (40K, 238U and 232Th) and radiological risk in building construction materials: the case of Benin hill granites Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences effective dose radionuclide specific activity excess lifetime cancer risk |
| title | Assessment of natural radioactivity (40K, 238U and 232Th) and radiological risk in building construction materials: the case of Benin hill granites |
| title_full | Assessment of natural radioactivity (40K, 238U and 232Th) and radiological risk in building construction materials: the case of Benin hill granites |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of natural radioactivity (40K, 238U and 232Th) and radiological risk in building construction materials: the case of Benin hill granites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of natural radioactivity (40K, 238U and 232Th) and radiological risk in building construction materials: the case of Benin hill granites |
| title_short | Assessment of natural radioactivity (40K, 238U and 232Th) and radiological risk in building construction materials: the case of Benin hill granites |
| title_sort | assessment of natural radioactivity 40k 238u and 232th and radiological risk in building construction materials the case of benin hill granites |
| topic | effective dose radionuclide specific activity excess lifetime cancer risk |
| url | https://bjrs.org.br/revista/index.php/REVISTA/article/view/2530 |
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