External exposure doses due to gamma emitting natural radionuclides in some Egyptian building materials

Using of building materials containing naturally occurring radionuclides as (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K and their progeny results in an external exposures of the housing of such buildings. In the present study, indoor dose rates for typical Egyptian rooms are calculated using the analytical method and activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in some building materials. Uniform chemical composition of the walls, floor and ceiling as well as uniform mass concentrations of the radionuclides in walls, floor and ceiling assumed. Different room models are assumed to discuss variation of indoor dose rates according to variation in room construction. Activity concentrations of (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K content in eight samples representative Clay soil and different building materials used in most recent Egyptian building were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The specific activity for (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K, from the selected samples, were in the range 14.15-60.64, 2.75-84.66 and 7.35-554.4 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The average indoor absorbed dose rates in air ranged from 0.005 mu Gy h(-1) to 0.071 mu Gy h(-1) and the corresponding population-weighted annual effective dose due to external gamma radiation varies from 0.025 to 0.345 mSv. An outdoor dose rate for typical building samples in addition to some radiological hazards has been introduced for comparison. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.