Radiological Hazard Resulting from using Ceramic Tile in Egypt

Abstract

In this study the radiological hazard Resulting from the using of ceramic tile locally produced and commonly used as building materials in Egypt have been done by determining the contents of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) by using gamma spectrometry (HPGe) detector. The measured average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Thand 40K were 47.4±3.3, 42.84±2.8 and 313.6±34.3 Bqkg-1 respectively. The obtained concentrations were compared with the reported data of other countries. The Raeq values of all samples were lower than the limit of 370Bq.kg-1, equivalent to a gamma dose of 1.5 mSv.a-1 recommended by OECD. With average total annual dose being only 0.07mSv y-1, this value is about 7 % of the 1.0 mSv y-1 recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP-60, 1990) as the maximum annual dose to members of the public.