Spatial distribution of natural radioactivity and statistical analyses of radioactive variables in Algerian ceramic products
Keywords:
ceramics, radioactive isotope, specific activities, radium equivalent;, tatistical analyses.Abstract
Algerian dwellings are known for their use of ceramics as decorative materials. The latter are mainly composed of clay that
contains naturally occurring radionuclides, mainly Uranium and Thorium families and the radioactive isotope of Potassium.
Therefore ceramics are classified as a source of hazardous contamination and broad investigations of natural radioactivity
levels must be established with the aim of estimating the harmful effects of ionizing radiations emitted by these materials. In
this study, thirteen samples collected from ceramic dealers and construction sites were analyzed using a high-resolution
HPGe semiconductor detector. Activity concentrations of 226
Ra, 232
Th and 40
K were found with mean specific activities of
22.28±0.61, 29.39±1.34 and 558.31±11.58 Bq.kg-1
, respectively. The obtained data were below the recommended values for
226
Ra and 232
Th. However, they were above them for 40
K. Radiological hazards parameters such as radium equivalent, activity
concentration index and activity utilization index were calculated and compared to the worldwide average values. Further,
statistical analyses were performed and discussed for the resulted data.
