Multivariate statistical investigations of natural radioactivity and radiological hazards in building materials mainly used in Amman Province, Jordan

Abstract

Thirty-two samples of seven types of building materials were collected from different locations (Manufacturers) of Amman-Province, Jordan, and analyzed using a gamma spectroscopy system. From the results, the values observed in the specific activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K range from 1.88 Bq/kg (bricks) to 69.8 Bq/kg (granite) for 226Ra, 0.78 Bq/kg (limestones) to 88.0 Bq/kg (granite) for 232Th and 2.00 Bq/kg (bricks and limestones) to 950.6 Bq/kg (granite) for 40K. The average concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were found to be 17.23 ± 14.56, 13.68 ± 22.19 and 139.71 ± 216.29 Bq/kg, respectively. Different radiological hazard indices were also determined. The results showed that the average radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the absorbed dose rate (D), the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), the external hazard index (Hex), the internal hazard index (Hin), activity utilisation index (AUI), the external gamma index (Iγ), and the internal alpha index (Iα) were: 65.62 Bq/kg, 59.20 nGy/h, 0.073 mSv/y, 0.177, 0.246, 0.418, 0.243 and 0.111, respectively. Multivariate statistical methods were applied to determine the existing relationship between radionuclides and radiological health hazard parameters and to assign the maximum contribution of these radionuclides in radioactivity. The estimated mean values of all different hazard indices in this study were in good agreement with that of the international values; therefore, it is concluded that the buildings constructed from such materials are safe for the inhabitants. The measured activity concentrations for these radionuclides were compared with the reported data obtained from similar materials used in other countries.