Radioactive Analysis and Radiological Hazards of Lime and Cement Fabricated in China

Studies have been carried out using gamma -spectrometric techniques to determine the natural radioactivity in lime and cement fabricated in China and their associated radiation hazard. The mean values of
²²⁶
Ra,
²³²
Th, and
⁴⁰
K are 26.1, 21.2, and 114.3 Bq kg
^-1
, respectively in lime, 20.8, 18.3, and 111.2 Bq kg
^-1
, respectively in limestone, and 39.7, 34.3, and 189.0 Bq kg
^-1
, respectively in cement. The measured activity concentrations for these radionuclides were compared with the reported data of other countries. The radium equivalent activities (Ra
_eq
), representative level index (I
_gamma
r), external hazard index (H
_ex
) and internal hazard index (H
_in
) were calculated and compared with the internationally approved values. The Raeq and I
_gamma
r values of all studied samples are below the internationally accepted values. The values of both internal and external hazard indices are less than unity. The use of lime and cement in construction of dwellings is considered to be safe for inhabitants