Assessment of Natural Radionuclides in Local and Imported Cements in Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan Region- Iraq

Abstract

A total of 10 cement samples were collected from the manufactures and markets. Spectrometry analysis of Sodium Iodide NaI (Tl) detector was used for measuring the samples' specific activity. The obtained specific activities of (²²⁶Ra,²³²Th and ⁴⁰K) were (35, 30 and 400) Bq/kg, respectively, which are below the critical values suggested by UNSCEAR2000. The radiological hazard indices of radium equivalent activities (Ra_eq), the indoor absorbed dose D_in(nGyh^-1), the internal annual effective dose equivalent (E_in) and the internal index (H_in) were calculated.All of the obtained values were below the world wide recommendation values. Fortunately, from the analyzed results, it was concluded that the local and imported cements in Erbil governorate will make no risk when used in building constructions.

Keywords:Radionuclides, Gamma-ray spectrometer, Cement.