Assessing Radiological Risks and Natural Radioactivity in Building Materials from Ica, Peru

The study investigated the radon emission rate and potential radiological hazards of high-uranium-content building materials in The Ica area of Southwestern Peru. We used a creative technique that combined a closed chamber and active monitor, and it was improved by a hermetic sealing method to maint...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Díaz, Félix, Liza, Rafael, Cerna, Nhell, Pereyra, Patrizia, Palacios, Daniel, Rojas, Jhonny, Sajo, Laszlo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:Perú
Institución:Universidad Autónoma del Perú
Repositorio:AUTONOMA-Institucional
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.autonoma.edu.pe:20.500.13067/3479
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13067/3479
https://doi.org/10.18687/LACCEI2024.1.1.1087
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Building Materials
Radiological Risks
Radionuclides
https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#2.01.00
Descripción
Sumario:The study investigated the radon emission rate and potential radiological hazards of high-uranium-content building materials in The Ica area of Southwestern Peru. We used a creative technique that combined a closed chamber and active monitor, and it was improved by a hermetic sealing method to maintain secular equilibrium well. The results showed radon emission rates as low as below detection limits (BDL) up to 52.3 mBq/kg·h. Our analyses with a 3' x 3' NaI detector found radionuclide concentrations in cement samples by gamma spectrometry. We found a high positive correlation between radium activity concentration and radon exhalation rate. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K differ significantly, with maximum values reaching 60.6, 22.3, and 1074 mBq/kg·h. We consider these results significant for the safety of materials in the Peruvian construction sector. And we also hope that they will provide information to support radiological risk management.