Estimation of Radiation Dose in Building Materials Used In Federal University Gusau Using Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy Analysis

Abstract

This study estimated the radiation dose in building materials (sand, cement, and granite) in Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria, through gamma-ray spectrometry system using a Sodium Iodide Thallium activated "NaITl" detector in a low background configuration. The range of the average activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra was found to be 56.65±0.75Bqkg^-1 to 159.45±2.68Bqkg^-1, which was higher than that of the world mean value for soil 35Bqkg^-1,for ²³²Th the range was 46.65±0.45Bqkg^-1 to 79.32±1.68Bqkg^-1, all the samples, were found to be higher than that of the world mean for soil 30Bqkg^-1. While the activity concentrations of ²³²Th levels of blocks, granite, and sand samples are all above the world range, except the cement which was within the worldwide range 194.84±1.31Bqkg^-1 to 656.84±0.76Bqkg^-1. The average activity concentration of ⁴⁰K for cement, sand, and blocks was within the worldwide range, with granite samples slightly higher than the world mean value for soil 400Bqkg^-1. The results have been compared with the world mean values of 35, 30, and 400Bqkg^-1 specified by the UNSCEAR (2016). Concerning radiological risk to human health, the absorbed gamma dose rate (D) was estimated to be above the world average range of 55nGyh^-1; the outdoor annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) were, estimated to be below the permissible limit of 0.07mSvy^-1. The values of Raeq, Hex, and Hin for all the samples in the present work are lower than the accepted safety limit value of 370Bqkg^-1 and below the limit of unity, respectively.