Assessment of radioactivity and radiological hazards associated with bricks in eastern Nepal.
| Autor: | Shrestha AK; Damak Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.; Central Department of Physics, Tribhuvan University, Nepal., Shrestha GK; Pulchowk Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal., Shah BR; Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Nepal., Koirala RP; Mahendra Morang Adarsh Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | Heliyon [Heliyon] 2024 Jan 17; Vol. 10 (2), pp. e24844. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jan 17 (Print Publication: 2024). |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24844 |
| Abstrakt: | This comprehensive study examines the concentration of natural radionuclides in bricks from the Terai region of the Koshi province, aiming to assess the radioactivity levels and associated radiological hazards, ultimately quantifying the dose limit. The average concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K were 27.1 ± 5.7, 42.6 ± 9.8, and 601.5 ± 93.8 Bq/kg, with their respective contributions to total activity being 20.18 %, 45.35 %, 34.48 %,. Despite this, their concentration distribution followed the pattern 40 K > 232 Th > 226 Ra. The elevated presence of 40 K in the bricks is attributed to the use of phosphate fertilizers in the soil to enhance crop productivity. Notably, the calculated values of radiological hazard parameters, including radium equivalent activity, absorbed gamma dose, and effective dose, are well below the recommended safety thresholds. Consequently, this study suggests that bricks, when used in substantial quantities, pose no significant radiological risks and are considered safe for use as a building material. The extension of such investigations nationwide is recommended to assess the overall radioactivity levels and establish dose limits. Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Arun Kumar Shrestha reports University Grants Commission Nepal provided a Ph.D. fellowship and research support grant including a travel reimbursement. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.) |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
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