Radiological risk assessment and natural radioactivity analysis of construction bricks in Karbala, Iraq

Physics Department at the College of Education for Pure Sciences at the University of Babylon, Hillah, Babylon Governorate, Iraq

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Abstract

We measured the natural radioactivity levels of clay bricks created in Karbala, Iraq. We used gamma-ray spectrometry of NaI (Tl) to find out the exact amounts of activity. The goal was to see if these bricks were safe to use in construction because of their radiation levels. The results showed that the average activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were 13.05, 16.94, and 411.30 Bq·kg⁻¹. A Radium Equivalent Activity (Ra_eq) of 68.94 Bq·kg⁻¹ was thought to be safe. We found the external (H_ex) and internal (Hⁱⁿ) hazard indices at 0.186 and 0.221, respectively. It was also found that the alpha (I_α) and gamma (Iγ) indices were 0.065 and 0.531, respectively. These numbers show that there is a low risk of radiation. The average absorbed dose rates in air were 33.04 nGy·h⁻¹ for external exposures and 63.95 nGy·h⁻¹ for interior exposures. The Annual Effective Doses (AEDE) were thought to be 0.041 and 0.314 mSv·y⁻¹. The Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) for external exposure was 0.14 × 10⁻³, and the ELCR for internal exposure was 1.10 × 10⁻³. All of the results are within the permitted parameters set by UNSCEAR. Because of this, the bricks being studied are thought to be safe for building.