Radiological landscape of natural resources and mining: Unveiling the environmental impact of naturally occurring radioactive materials in Ghana's mining areas.

This study provides a general observation of the status of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) distribution in mining and industrial areas of Ghana in order to establish regional and national data on NORMs. The study includes data on radioactivity concentrations of U-238, Th-232, and K-40 in soils and for water concentrations of Ra-226, Th-228, and K-40 from various mining, oil, and gas communities, as well as water sources used for crop farming and farmlands. The average activity concentrations of U-238, Th-232, and K-40 in the soil samples were found to be 59 ± 16 Bq/kg, 48 ± 15 Bq/kg, and 286 ± 57 Bq/kg, respectively.

Estimated versus field measured soil gas radon concentration and soil gas permeability.

Prediction of areas with elevated natural radiation is fundamental for the prevention of human exposure. Soil gas radon activity concentration and soil gas permeability are predictive parameters for the radon potential, which has great importance in areas where future urban development is planned. In this study, the soil gas radon equilibrium concentration (C∞) and soil gas permeability (K) were estimated through the application of theoretical and empirical models found in the literature.

Natural radioactivity and radiological risks of common building materials used in Semnan Province dwellings, Iran.

Impact assessment of building materials is a focused topic in the field of radioecology. A radiological survey has conducted to monitor radioactivity of most common building materials in Semnan Province, Iran, and assess the radiation risk. Activity concentrations of Ra, Th, and K were measured in 29 samples including nine commonly used building materials that were collected from local suppliers and manufacturers, using a high purity germanium gamma-ray detector.

Development of a reference material for analysing naturally occurring radioactive material from the steel industry.

Accurate measurement of naturally occurring radionuclides in blast furnace slag, a by-product of the steel industry, is required for compliance with building regulations where it is often used as an ingredient in cement. A matrix reference blast furnace slag material has been developed to support traceability in these measurements. Raw material provided by a commercial producer underwent stability and homogeneity testing, as well as characterisation of matrix constituents, to provide a final candidate reference material.