Assessment of Radioactivity in Building Materials:

Adeeb O. Jafir; Mohammed I. Hussein; Idrees A. Nadir; Barzan N. Sabr; Ali H. Hassan

doi:10.14500/aro.11545

Adeeb O. Jafir Department of Physics, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0123-4186
Mohammed I. Hussein Department of Physics, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0830-1162
Idrees A. Nadir 2Department of Earth Sciences and Petroleum, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3966-4554
Barzan N. Sabr Department of Physics, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4764-6058
Ali H. Hassan Department of Physics, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9561-6224

Keywords: Annual dose, Building materials, HPGe detector, Primordial radionuclides, Radiation indices, RESRAD-BUILD code, Rocks

Abstract

This research investigates the radioactivity levels of various rock types used in construction within the Kurdistan region and assesses their potential impact on human health, the measurements were performed using an HPGe gamma-ray spectrometer. The measured activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K radionuclides varied from ND (Chromitite) to 78.68 ± 4.54 Bq/kg (Marly Limestone), ND (Chromitite) to 109.52 ± 10.23 Bq/kg (Mudstone), and ND (Chromitite) to 2973.6 ± 152.1 Bq/kg (Claystone), respectively. The obtained Raeq values for all rock samples are well below the UNSCEAR, 2008 recommended value of 370 Bq/kg. 71.43% of DR, 66.66% of E_out, 71.43% of E_in, 100% of Hinand H_out, 71.43% of ELCR_out, 71.43% of ELCR_in, and 100% of activity utilization index of the rock samples are well below the recommended values declared by UNSCEAR, 2008. The radioactivity level of rock types that are prepared as building materials should be assessed by the producers and considered by the users to reduce the overall cancer risk. The outcomes of the RESRAD-BUILD computer code indicate that the maximum external and inhalation doses were calculated to be 19.7 and 0.105 μSv for R7 and R1 samples, respectively, over a period of 70 years.

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Author Biographies

Adeeb O. Jafir, Department of Physics, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq

Adeeb O. Jafir is an Assistant Prof. at the Department of Physics, College of Science, Salahaddin University. He got the B.Sc. degree in Physics, the M.Sc. degree in thin films and the Ph.D. degree in Nuclear physics. His research
interests are in Radiation, environment and health. Dr. Adeeb is a member of the Kurdistan Syndicate of Physicists.

Mohammed I. Hussein, Department of Physics, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq

Mohammed I. Hussein is a Lecturer at the Department of Physics, College of Science, Salahaddin University. He got the B.Sc. degree in Physics, the M.Sc. degree in Nuclear physics and the Ph.D. degree in Nuclear Astrophysics. His research interests are in Nuclear Astrophysics, Radiation, environment and health. Dr. Mohammed is a member of the Kurdistan Syndicate of Physicists.

Idrees A. Nadir, 2Department of Earth Sciences and Petroleum, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq

Idrees N. Ahmed is a Lecturer at the Department of Earth Sciences and Petroleum, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil. He got the B.Sc. degree in Geology, the M.Sc. degree in Geochemistry and the Ph.D. degree in Geochemistry/Ore deposits. His research interests geochemistry, ore deposits, environmental geochemistry. Dr. Idrees is a member of the Kurdistan Syndicate of geology.

Barzan N. Sabr, Department of Physics, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq

Barzan N. Sabr is a Lecturer at the Department of Physics, College of Science, Salahaddin University. He got the B.Sc. degree in Physics, the M.Sc. degree in Nuclear physics. His research interests are in Nuclear Physics,
Radiation Physics, and Biophysics. Mr. Barzan is a member of the Kurdistan Syndicate of Physicists.

Ali H. Hassan, Department of Physics, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq

Ali H. Ahmed is a Prof. at the Department of Physics, College of Science, Salahaddin University. He got the B.Sc. degree in Physics, the M.Sc. degree in Nuclear Physics and the Ph.D. degree in Nuclear physics. His research interests are in Radiation, nuclear physics and health physics. Dr. Ali is a member of the Kurdistan Syndicate of Physicists.

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Assessment of Radioactivity in Building Materials

Implications for Health in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

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