Title: Determination of radiological hazards due to alpha emitters from ceramic used in Iraq

Authors: Sara Salih Nayif; Elham Jasim Mohammed; Abdalsattar Kareem Hashim; Ali Abid Abojassim; Hussien Abid Ali Bakir Mraity

Addresses: Department of Physics, College of Science, Kerbala University, Karbala, Iraq ' Department of Physics, College of Science, Kerbala University, Karbala, Iraq ' Department of Physics, College of Science, Kerbala University, Karbala, Iraq ' Department of Physics, College of Science, Kufa University, Najaf, Iraq ' Department of Physics, College of Science, Kufa University, Najaf, Iraq

Abstract: The approach of sealed can was utilised in this work to determine the amount of the radioactivity (alpha emission) of imported ceramic tiles that are used in different kinds of buildings kinds in Iraq. The resulted data showed that the radon concentration varied from 22.105 to 302.482 Bq/m³ with an average of 162.293 Bq/m³. The effective radium content ranged from 0.079 to 1.087 Bq/kg with an average value of 0.583 Bq/kg. The uranium concentration varied from 1.192 to 16.313 Bq/kg with an average value of 16.313 Bq/kg. After obtaining those results and comparing them with the global average and permissible limits recommended by international scientific agencies such as ICRP and UNSCEAR, it was found that the considered ceramic samples are safe for local use.

Keywords: alpha emitters; ceramic; radiological hazards; closed-can technique.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2023.132653

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2023 Vol.16 No.2, pp.97 - 107

Received: 14 Mar 2022
Received in revised form: 09 Apr 2022
Accepted: 02 May 2022
Published online: 07 Aug 2023 *