Measurement of natural radioactivity in some commercial marble samples used in Algeria

Abstract

Ionizing radiations emitted by natural radionuclides have always existed in building materials which directlyaffect human beings, and can contribute in accumulated dose in long term. The objective of this work was an investigation ofnatural radioactivity levels associated radiationhazard in commercial marble samples used in Algeria. Six samples were collected from marble dealers and were analyzed by gamma spectrometry, using a high resolution HPGesemi-conductor detector with (1.11 keV for 214Bi 609 keV line). The spectra were analyzed using the Genie 2000 software dedicatedto the processing of gamma spectra. Theactivity concentrations of primordial radionuclides 232Th, 226Raand 40K were determined; they ranged from 0.1 to 1.5 Bq/kg with anaverage concentration value of 0.9 Bq/kg, from 0.5 to 40.3 Bq/kg with a meanconcentration value of 9.3 Bq/kg andfrom 0.7 to 38.7 Bq/kg with an average concentration value of 25.5 Bq/kg,respectively. The results were found to be lower thanthe world wide average values. In order to assess the radiological hazardassociated to these radionuclides, radiation hazard parameters and doseestimations were elaborated.