Comprehensive Study of Natural Radioactivity in Building Materials: A Case Study in Ica, Peru
This study evaluates radon exhalation rates and assesses the potential radiological risks of external exposure to primordial radionuclides in building materials employed in the Ica region of Peru, particularly those with high uranium content. The radon exhalation rates are currently measured using a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/3/279 |
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| author | Rafael Liza Patrizia Pereyra Daniel Muñoz Victor Viera Maria Elena López Herrera Jhonny Rojas Daniel Palacios Félix Díaz Nhell Cerna Segundo Rojas Laszlo Sajo-Bohus |
| author_facet | Rafael Liza Patrizia Pereyra Daniel Muñoz Victor Viera Maria Elena López Herrera Jhonny Rojas Daniel Palacios Félix Díaz Nhell Cerna Segundo Rojas Laszlo Sajo-Bohus |
| author_sort | Rafael Liza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study evaluates radon exhalation rates and assesses the potential radiological risks of external exposure to primordial radionuclides in building materials employed in the Ica region of Peru, particularly those with high uranium content. The radon exhalation rates are currently measured using a combination of a closed chamber and an active monitor. We proposed a novel method that effectively ensured a hermetic seal for the closed chamber and guaranteed that the efficient maintenance of secular equilibrium. The obtained results ranged from below the detection limit (BDL) to a maximum of 52.3 mBq · kg<sup>−1</sup>h<sup>−1</sup>. Gamma spectrometry was employed to measure the concentrations of radionuclides by utilizing a 3′ × 3′ NaI detector. The analysis of cement samples revealed a strong positive correlation between the activity concentration of radium and the radon exhalation rate. The activity concentrations for radionuclides varied, with values ranging from BDL to 60.6 mBq · kg<sup>−1</sup>h<sup>−1</sup> for <sup>226</sup>Ra, BDL to 22.3 mBq · kg<sup>−1</sup>h<sup>−1</sup> for <sup>232</sup>Th, and BDL to 1074 mBq · kg<sup>−1</sup>h<sup>−1</sup> for <sup>40</sup>K. These findings contribute valuable insight to decision-making processes in the Peruvian construction industry, particularly regarding material safety and radiological risk management. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:34:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8fda9cfb54e14dd1a6e18aa22742f41a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:34:36Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-8fda9cfb54e14dd1a6e18aa22742f41a2024-03-27T13:20:35ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332024-02-0115327910.3390/atmos15030279Comprehensive Study of Natural Radioactivity in Building Materials: A Case Study in Ica, PeruRafael Liza0Patrizia Pereyra1Daniel Muñoz2Victor Viera3Maria Elena López Herrera4Jhonny Rojas5Daniel Palacios6Félix Díaz7Nhell Cerna8Segundo Rojas9Laszlo Sajo-Bohus10Departamento de Ciencias, Seccion Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, San Miguel 15088, PeruDepartamento de Ciencias, Seccion Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, San Miguel 15088, PeruDepartamento de Ciencias, Seccion Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, San Miguel 15088, PeruDepartamento de Ciencias, Seccion Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, San Miguel 15088, PeruDepartamento de Ciencias, Seccion Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, San Miguel 15088, PeruDepartamento de Ciencias, Seccion Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, San Miguel 15088, PeruDepartamento de Ciencias, Seccion Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, San Miguel 15088, PeruVicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Autónoma del Peru, Lima 15842, PeruFacultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Escuela Académico Profesional de Medicina Humana, Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener, Lima 15072, PeruEscuela de Ingeniería Mecánica Eléctrica, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo 14000, PeruLaboratorio de Física Nuclear, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas 1080 A, VenezuelaThis study evaluates radon exhalation rates and assesses the potential radiological risks of external exposure to primordial radionuclides in building materials employed in the Ica region of Peru, particularly those with high uranium content. The radon exhalation rates are currently measured using a combination of a closed chamber and an active monitor. We proposed a novel method that effectively ensured a hermetic seal for the closed chamber and guaranteed that the efficient maintenance of secular equilibrium. The obtained results ranged from below the detection limit (BDL) to a maximum of 52.3 mBq · kg<sup>−1</sup>h<sup>−1</sup>. Gamma spectrometry was employed to measure the concentrations of radionuclides by utilizing a 3′ × 3′ NaI detector. The analysis of cement samples revealed a strong positive correlation between the activity concentration of radium and the radon exhalation rate. The activity concentrations for radionuclides varied, with values ranging from BDL to 60.6 mBq · kg<sup>−1</sup>h<sup>−1</sup> for <sup>226</sup>Ra, BDL to 22.3 mBq · kg<sup>−1</sup>h<sup>−1</sup> for <sup>232</sup>Th, and BDL to 1074 mBq · kg<sup>−1</sup>h<sup>−1</sup> for <sup>40</sup>K. These findings contribute valuable insight to decision-making processes in the Peruvian construction industry, particularly regarding material safety and radiological risk management.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/3/279building materialsnatural radioactivityradon exhalation rategamma index |
| spellingShingle | Rafael Liza Patrizia Pereyra Daniel Muñoz Victor Viera Maria Elena López Herrera Jhonny Rojas Daniel Palacios Félix Díaz Nhell Cerna Segundo Rojas Laszlo Sajo-Bohus Comprehensive Study of Natural Radioactivity in Building Materials: A Case Study in Ica, Peru Atmosphere building materials natural radioactivity radon exhalation rate gamma index |
| title | Comprehensive Study of Natural Radioactivity in Building Materials: A Case Study in Ica, Peru |
| title_full | Comprehensive Study of Natural Radioactivity in Building Materials: A Case Study in Ica, Peru |
| title_fullStr | Comprehensive Study of Natural Radioactivity in Building Materials: A Case Study in Ica, Peru |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comprehensive Study of Natural Radioactivity in Building Materials: A Case Study in Ica, Peru |
| title_short | Comprehensive Study of Natural Radioactivity in Building Materials: A Case Study in Ica, Peru |
| title_sort | comprehensive study of natural radioactivity in building materials a case study in ica peru |
| topic | building materials natural radioactivity radon exhalation rate gamma index |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/3/279 |
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