Statistical assessment of radiological data of tiles collected from Jordan

Abstract

In this present study, activity concentration of natural radionuclides such as 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were determined using gamma ray spectrometer based on High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector in ceramic tiles collected from Jordan. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were found to be 63.75 ± 24.12, 93.65 ± 13.89 and 180.9 ± 45.69 Bq.kg−1. respectively. Using activity concentration of 226R, 232Th and 40K, the radiological parameters such as radium equivalent activity (Raeq), Criteria formula (CF), absorbed dose rate (DR), annual effective dose rate (HR), activity utilisation index (AUI), external hazard index (Hex), international hazard index (Hin), alpha index and gamma index (Iγ) has been calculated to assess the radiation hazards in the Tiles. The calculated average value of all radiological parameters is less than the recommended limit. The calculated values of annual effective dose rate (HR), show that about 30% of the samples exceeded the recommended limit of 1 mSv.y−1. Moreover, multivariate statistical techniques such as Pearson correlation, factor and cluster analysis were performed between the radioactive variables to know the existing relation between them.