International Journal of Advances in Science and Technology, Vol. 3, No.

5, 2011

Comparative Study of Natural Radioactivity Levels in Sandcrete and Mud Blocks for Structural Construction in Ogbomoso, South-West, Nigeria
Olatunde Michael Oni and Jonathan Olanipekun Ajayi
Department of Pure and Applied Physics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria olatundeoni@yahoo.com; omoni@lautech.edu.ng; joajayi@lautech.edu.ng

Abstract
The measurement of gamma ray activity due to natural radionuclides in sandcrete and mud blocks in Ogbomoso, South-West, Nigeria has been carried out using gamma spectrometry. The mean concentration of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th detected and measured in the samples of building block from sandcrete were respectively 120.95 1.785, 26.12 0.702 and 17.45 0.379. In the samples from mud block, the mean concentration are 97.75 1.291, 19.75 0.625 and 18.29 0.365 for the radionuclides 40K, 238U and 232Th respectively. The radium-equivalent activities for both types of the building block were found to be below the maximum value of 370 Bq.kg-1 for building materials. Similarly, all the radiological hazard indices of the samples assessed were below the upper limits of recommended value of unity. A test of significance of the variation in the measurements for the two types of building block showed that there is a significance difference in the specific activity of the two building blocks considered at the 5% level of significance. This finding thus indicated that mud block, based on its lower activity and radiological hazard level is a better choice compared to sandcrete block.

Keywords: Gamma spectrometry; Structural construction; mud blocks; sandcrete blocks;

Radionuclide concentrations; Radiological hazard.

1. Introduction Humans and other living substances on earth have developed under the presence of gamma radiation and charged-particles in the environment. It has been well established that ionizing radiation may harm life and biological systems [1]. Radiation from natural sources is of great importance because it is the main source of exposure to humankind [2]. Naturally occurring building materials; raw and processed products have radionuclides belonging to the three most commonly known radioactive series: Uranium-radium series, thorium series and 40K isotopes[3]. The high level radioactivity concentrations of these natural radionuclides in building materials can result in highdose rates indoors [4], contributing to the whole body dose and in some cases, to the skin dose, depending on the specific ionization of the radiation and particles. The radiation which people are exposed to may increase if they live in houses or buildings constructed by using materials whose radiation doses are above normal background level in the area. This may be due to the constituents from which the building materials have been made. It is therefore pertinent to determine the activity of radionuclides belonging to uranium and thorium series and of 40K radioisotope in building materials so as to evaluate the possible radiological risk and biological damage associated with the materials and also to make standardizations about building materials. The aim of this study was to calculate the specific activity of gamma rays emitted by two types of building materials commonly used in Nigeria and through a comparative analysis, determine which of the materials has a lower index of possible radiological risk.

2. Materials and method

A total of 30 samples of building blocks were collected: 15 sandcrete and 15 mud. Both types of building blocks were collected at Ogbomoso, South west, Nigeria. The constituents of the two types of blocks were also from the same study area, except cement used in the sandcrete.

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International Journal of Advances in Science and Technology, Vol. 3, No.5, 2011 However, detailed radioactitvity level of different brands of cement available in Nigeria have determined in a previous study [5 ]. The samples were ground into a fine powder with a particle size less than 1 mm. They were then dried in a temperature-controlled furnace at 110oC for 20-24 h to remove moisture. The samples were subsequently cooled after moisture removal. Each sample was then filled into cylindrical plastic containers and hermetically sealed. The sealed samples were stored for 28 days before counting to allow parent radionuclide reach the secular equilibrium with its short-lived decay products. The gamma radiation from each sample, after waiting for one month in containers was measured with a well calibrated low level gamma spectrometer comprising a 6.15 cm x 6.15 cm NaI(Tl) detector (model Bicrom). The detector was coupled to a Canberra series S100 multichannel analyser through a preamplifier base. spectrometry. The gamma spectrometer has a resolution of 7% at the 0.662 MeV of 137Cs, which is capable of distinguishing the gamma ray energies of primordial radionuclides and their short-lived decay products. The detection efficiency of the gamma counting system was obtained using a standard source of same matrix as the prepared samples. The reference standard source (IAEA-315) is traceable to the Analytical Quality Control Services (AQCS) of the IAEA laboratories, Vienna, Austria. The procedures of the calibration and determination of the minimum lower limit of detection (LLD) of the measuring system was as earlier reported [6]. The activity concentration using the gamma rays at 1.460 MeV from 40K, 1.760 MeV from 214Bi radioisotope (for 226Ra series) and 2.615 MeV from 208Tl radioisotope (for 232Th) were measured in the block samples, for 10 hours. The result obtained in Bq.kg-1 is presented in table 1.

3. Result and discussion Activity concentration In this study, 15 samples each of building blocks from sandcrete and mud were measured for the natural radioactivity level (Table 1). The activity concentrations ranged between 116.98 and 124.31 Bq.kg-1, 25.08 and 27.24 Bq.kg-1, and 16.89 and 17.83 Bq.kg-1 for 40K, 226Ra and 232Th respectively, in sandcrete. For mud block samples, the activity concentrations were found to vary between 95.65 and 100.02 Bq.kg-1 for 40K, 18.92 and 21.34 Bq.kg-1 for 226Ra, and 17.88 and 18.92 Bq.kg-1 for 232Th. The mean 226Ra (Table 2) was higher in sandcrete than in mud. However, the activity concentrations of the two building materials considered in this work were below the world average values of 50, 50 and 500 Bq.kg-1 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively [7, 8]. Radiological hazards indices The relative concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th in different building materials are not the same. These natural radionuclides contained in the building materials are compared using a radiological hazard index called radium equivalent activity defined by [9 ] as :

Ra eq ARa 1.43 ATh 0.077 AK

The ARa ,

ATh and AK are the respective specific activities of

226

Ra,

232

(1) Th and K. In both types of

40

the building materials however, the radium equivalent activity though higher in sandcrete blocks, was found (Table 2) to be lower than the average value recorded for cement samples used in Nigeria [10] and less than the maximum value of 370 Bq.kg-1 expected in building materials [11 ]. The external hazard index and gamma activity index are another criteria to assess the suitability of a building material. The values of these indices must be less than unity for the radiation hazard to be acceptable. For limiting the radiation dose form building materials to this value, model of the external hazard index proposed by Krieger[12] was reported by Berekta and Mathew [9] as

H ex
I

ARa ATh A K 370 259 4810

(2)

The gamma activity index was defined [13] as

ARa ATh A K 300 200 3000

(3)

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International Journal of Advances in Science and Technology, Vol. 3, No.5, 2011 The mean values of the external hazard and gamma activity indices for both samples of building materials considered in this work which were less than unity(Table 2). The values were also found to be below the average for different brands of building cements in Nigeria. The excess alpha radiation due to radon inhalation which originate from sandcrete and mud blocks when used in building was estimated from the the alpha index. The index is defined as [14, 15]

ARa 200

(4)

The mean value of the alpha index is lesser in mud block than in sandcrete block. The values for both samples were less than the limit value of unity. The value of the hazard indices for both samples of building materials has indicated that the samples are suitable as building materials. However, the analysis of variance of the concentration of the radionuclides in both types of building blocks showed that there is a significant difference in the radioactivity level, based on the types of blocks used. This was determined from the probability value (p-value = 0.000) of the analysis being less than the value of the chosen level of significance ( value = 0.05). 4. Conclusion The natural radionuclide concentrations in two types of building block had been determined using gamma spectrometry. Sequel to the specific activities of the radionuclide determined in the samples, the radiological risk due to the radionuclides was assessed from the value of the radiunequivalent activities, external hazard index, gamma activity and alpha indices. All the radiological indices were determined to present the safe use of the materials for building purposes. The variation of the radionuclide concentration in the samples assayed statistically analysed showed (Table 3) that the specific activities of the natural radionuclides in the sandcrete and mud blocks differ significantly at 5% level. Thus revealing that blocks from mud offer a lower radiological risk when use in building.

Table 1. The radionuclide concentrations in sandcrete and mud blocks

Sample identity K (Bq.kg ) Ra (Bq.kg ) Th(Bq.kg ) SC1 121.78 25.98 17.82 SC2 120.92 26.01 17.78 SC3 124.31 26.81 17.67 SC4 122.12 24.99 16.99 SC5 119.98 25.67 17.83 SC6 120.11 25.71 17.67 SC7 121.78 25.84 17.69 SC8 119.99 26.92 17.71 SC9 120.89 27.01 16.98 SC10 123.11 27.24 16.89 SC11 118.32 26.92 17.64 SC12 116.98 25.97 17.69 SC13 121.46 25.08 16.97 SC14 120.98 25.64 16.89 SC15 121.56 26.05 17.57 MD1 99.26 19.71 17.93 MD2 98.78 19.76 18.01 MD3 99.01 20.19 18.92 MD4 100.02 20.17 18.79 MD5 97.96 21.34 18.77 MD6 96.28 19.89 18.92 MD7 98.18 19.91 17.88 MD8 98.02 19.32 18.01 MD9 97.22 20.18 18.08 MD10 98.23 19.85 18.09 MD11 95.65 19.84 18.13 MD12 97.22 18.97 18.22 MD13 98.15 18.92 18.21 MD14 96.37 19.01 18.19 MD15 95.87 19.21 18.20 *Samples with identity prefix of SC is of sandcrete while MD is of mud block
* 40 -1 226 -1 232 -1

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International Journal of Advances in Science and Technology, Vol. 3, No.5, 2011

Table 2: Mean concentration and radium equivalent of the activities radionionuclides in sandcrete and mud blocks
Sample Sandcrete Mud
40

K(Bq.kg ) 120.95 (1.785) 97.75 (1.291)

-1

226

Ra(Bq.kg ) 26.12 (0.702) 19.75 (0.625)

-1

232

Th(Bq.kg ) 17.45 (0.379) 18.29 (0.365)

-1

Raeq (Bq.kg ) 58.81 51.78

-1

Hext 0.16 0.14

I 0.22 0.19

I 0.13 0.09

Table 3. Analysis of variance in radionuclide contents of sandcrete and mud blocks

Sum of Squares
40

Df 1 28 29 1 28 29 1 28 29

Mean Square 4038.424 2.426 304.454 .442 5.258 .139

F 1664.581

Probability (p- value) 0.000

Between Groups Within Groups Total

4038.424 67.931 4106.355 304.454 12.369 316.823 5.258 3.878 9.137

238

Between Groups Within Groups Total

689.208

0.000

232

Th

Between Groups Within Groups Total

37.966

0.000

5. References
1. 2. 3. Aarkrog, A. Environmental radiation and radioactive releases. Int J Radiat Biol; vol. 4, pp. 619-631, 1990. Ahmed, N.K. Measurement of natural radioactivity in building materials in Qena city, Upper Egypt. J. Environ. Radioact., vol. 83, pp. 91-99, 2005. Karangelos, D.J. , Petropoulos NP, Anagnostakis MJ, Hinis EP, Simopoulos SE. Radiological characteristics and investigation of the radioactive equilibrium in the ashes produced in lignite-fired power plants. J. Environ. Radioact., vol. 77no. 3, pp. 233-246, 2004. Petropoulos, N. P, Anagnostakis MJ, Simopoulos SE. Photon attenuation, natural radioactivity content and radon exhalation rate of building materials. J. Environ. Radioact., vol. 61 no.3, pp. 257- 269, 2002. Farai,I.P and Ejeh, J.E. Radioactivity concentrations in common brands of cement in Nigeria. Radioprotection, vol. 41, pp.455-462 , 2006. Farai, I.P. and Isinkaye, M.O. Radiological safety assessment of surface-water dam sediments used as building material in southwestern Nigeria. J. Radiol. Prot., vol. 29, pp. 85-93, 2009. OECD (Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development). Exposure to radiation from natural radioactivity in building materials. Report by a Group of experts of the OECD (Paris: Nuclear Energy Agency), 1979. UNSCEAR (United Nation Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation) Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation Report to the General Assembly (New York: United Nations), 1993. Beretka, J. and Matthew, P. Natural radioactivity of Australian building materials, industrial wastes and by-products Health Phys. vol. 48 , pp. 87-95, 1985.

4.

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9.

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International Journal of Advances in Science and Technology, Vol. 3, No.5, 2011 10. Ademola, J.A. Assessment of natural radionuclide content of cements used in Nigeria. J. Radiol. Prot. Vol. 28, pp. 581-588, 2008. 11. Oni, O.M., Farai, I.P and Awodugba, A. O. Natural radionuclide concentrations and radiological impact assessment of river sediments of the coastal areas of Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Protection, vol. 2, pp. 418-423, 2011. 12. Krieger, R. Radioactivity of construction materials Betonwerk Fertigteil-Tech vol. 47, pp. 468-473, 1981. 13. EC ( European Commission); Radiological protection principles concerning the natural radioactivity of building materials Radiat. Prot. Vol. 112, 1999. 14. Righi, S and Bruzzi,L. Natural radioactivity and radon exhalation in building materials used in Italian dwellings. J. Environ. Radioact. Vol. 88, pp. 158-170, 2006. 15. Xinwei L. Lingqing, W., Xiaodan J. Leipeng, Y. and Gelian, D. Specific activity and hazards of Archeozoic-Camabarian rock samples collected from the Weibei area of Shaanxi, China. Radiat. Prot. Dosim. Vol. 118, pp. 352-359, 2006.

Authors Profile
Dr. Olatunde Michael Oni received his Ph.D degree from University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 2004. He is a member of the Nigeria Institute of Physics. He is currently an Associate Professor of Physics. His major research area is in Radiation and Health Physics. He has several publications to his credit in this research area.

Dr. Jonathan Olanipekun Ajayi received his Ph.D degree from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria in 2010. This author is a member of Nigeria Institute of Physics. He is presently a senior lecturer and he is having overall teaching experience of 21 years. His major research interests are in Solid State, Radiation and Health Physics.

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