Natural γ-ray-emitting radionuclides in Egyptian cement

MISCELLANEOUS

Natural γ-ray-emitting radionuclides in Egyptian cement

A.M. EL-ARABI，

A. ABBADY，

A.H. EL-KAMEL，

A. NOSIER，

A. MOUSTAFA

Nuclear Science and Techniques

Vol.16, No.6

pp.376-380

Published in print 01 Dec 2005

CLC：TQ172.1+8,TL817.+2

30300

Samples of cement manufactured in Egypt and the raw materials have been analyzed using gamma-spectroscopy, in order to determine the concentration of natural radionuclides and associated radiological hazard. The mean of specific activity due to radionuclides of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K was found to be (20±4), (11± 2), (320±18) (gypsum), (41±8), (27±5), (410±27) (clay), (58±11), (18±3), (321±20) (iron ore)and (37.6±6), (11.8±3), (178.6±15) Bq•kg^-1 (Portland cement), respectively. ⁴⁰K concentration could not be detected in slag, limestone, sulphate resistant cement (S.R.C.), clinker and white cement, while the mean specific activities of ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th are (239±16), (48.7±7); (31.5±5), (10±2); (47±7), (20±5); (23±5), (10.4±3) and (23±5), (11±3) Bq•kg^-1, respectively. The activities (concentrations) are in the same range as the data released in other countries. The calculated radiation hazard parameters for all the samples are still lower than the acceptable values in Egypt and other countries.

gamma rayNatural radionuclidesCementRadiation hazard

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