Radiological characterization of natural building materials from the Campania region (Southern Italy)

The characterization of natural radioactivity content in thirty-one natural building materials representative of the Campania region (South Italy) was carried out. High resolution gamma-ray spectrometry for the determination of the Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 activity concentrations was used. Commonly-used radiation hazard indexes were computed to evaluate the human exposure to gamma-radiation. The results are compared to limit values established by the 2013/59/Euratom Directive and by UNSCEAR: the comparison proves the high natural radioactivity content and the radiation exposure hazard coming from some samples of volcanic origin. The emanated fraction and the exhalation rate of the Rn-222 and of the Rn-220 from the investigated materials were also measured with the alpha-spectrometry of the ionized radon daughters. This study is justified by the ever-growing public concern about radon risk associated to building materials from Campania region, locally widely used and exported worldwide. The results show interesting differences about the radioactivity content and the capacity to generate radon, among the different materials. This work contributes to enriching knowledge about natural radioactivity in natural building materials used in Italy. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study characterized the natural radioactivity content in 31 natural building materials from the Campania region, revealing high radiation exposure hazard in samples of volcanic origin. By analyzing the emanation and exhalation rates of radon daughters, the study investigated the radon risk associated with these materials. This work contributes to enriching knowledge about natural radioactivity in natural building materials used in Italy.