Investigations Of Natural Radioactivity Levels In Cement Cements Raw Materials And Some Related Environmental Samples Using Gamma Ray Spectrometer

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Natural radioactive materials can be originated from various geological materials enrichedrnwith radio elements. Commonly known natural radioactive materials are primordial radionuclides,rn238rn92 U, 235rn92 U, 232rn90 Th and 40rn19K, which are known for their long half lifetime. Partsrnof the earth or earth surface like sedimentary rock, limestone and sandstone, and clay rocksrnare the known geological materials in hosting such radioactive materials. The distributionrnof radio elements in earth crust depends on geo-chemical conditions of their hosts, weathering,rnhuman actions, and the like factors. Therefore, their distribution in and/or on earthrnsurfaces is not homogeneous, vary from places to places. Radionuclide hosting materialsrncan be used for different purposes in different factories as a raw material. Cement factoriesrnare the known consumer of such raw materials in the production of Portland cement. In thisrnstudy, the levels of activities and health hazard indices in raw materials and final productsrnof Portland cement samples were measured at cement factories in west Shoa Oromia regionalrnstate, Ethiopia. Besides, activities and health hazard indices of related environmentalrnsamples, soil, were measured.rnThe study had been accomplished using high efficiency gamma ray spectrometer withrnDigital Signal Analyser, (DSA) coupled with High Purified Germanium detector and highrnefficiency gamma ray spectrometer with modular detector electronics, coupled with Thalliumrnactivated Sodium Iodide (NaI(Tl)) detector. The gamma ray spectrometers are controlledrnby GENIE2K-high channel number performance, computer software, and out putrnresults are displayed on coupled personal computer.rnThe activity levels and corresponding health hazard indices of 238rn92 U, 232rn90 Th and 40rn19K in thernmain cement raw materials (Limestone, Sandstone, and Clay rocks), additive raw materialsrn(Coal, Pumice and Gypsum) and final cement product (Ordinary Portland cement, PozzolanarnPortland cement and semi-processed cement called clinker) samples were measured. As thernmain cement raw materials, maximum activities were measured in clay samples, 50:58_rn2:42, 150:40_7:41 and 365:00_17:11 Bq=Kg, for 238rn92 U, 232rn90 Th and 40rn19K respectively, wherernlow activity concentrations were measured in Limestone samples, 7:43_0:35, 1:75_0:29rnand 17:02_1:56 Bq=Kg respectively, for 238rn92 U, 232rn90 Th and 40rn19K.rnIn additive cement raw material samples, maximum activity concentrations were measuredrnin pumice samples as 78:00_4:00, 107:53_5:49 and 1307:65_60:70 Bq=Kg, forrnvirn238rn92 U, 232rn90 Th and 40rn19K radio elements respectively. Low activities were measured in gypsumrnsamples, 1:56_0:14, 1:79_0:33 and 28_2:0 Bq=Kg, for 238rn92 U, 232rn90 Th and 40rn19K respectively.rnIn the same way, the final product of cement, Portland cement, got a maximum reading ofrn31:63_1:46, 45:87_2:30 and 369:71_16:94 Bq=Kg for 238rn92 U, 232rn90 Th and 40rn19K respectively.rnThe related environmental samples, collected from floriculture industry near Holetarntown, Oromia special zone, gave activity concentration readings for 238rn92 U, 232rn90 Th and 40rn19K, asrn197:18_16:88, 8:00_0:29 and 360:40_21:20 respectively.rnThe elemental concentration values for natural radio elements in above were also calculatedrnfor additive cement raw material and floriculture soil samples. The results have arndirect relation with activity concentrations, maximum activity concentration will give maximumrnelemental concentration values. The health hazard indices, Radium equivalent activityrn(Raeq), Absorbed dose (DR), Annual dose rate (ADR), External hazard index (Hex) and Internalrnhazard index (Hin) were calculated for each studied sample. These parameters haverna direct relation with activity concentrations that maximum activity concentrations will inducesrnmaximum health hazards to the environments.rnThe measured activity values were compared with other’s work investigations for thernsame sample types and world average values given by United Nations Scientific Committeernon the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR-2000). It was found that results from somernsamples (Pumice, Coal and Clay) were crossed the values given by the committee, andrnothers are with in the permissible values given by this committee.

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Investigations Of Natural Radioactivity Levels In Cement Cements Raw Materials And Some Related Environmental Samples Using Gamma Ray Spectrometer

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