RADON EXHALATION FROM SELECTED BUILDING MATERIALS IN TANZANIA

Authors

  • Aloyce Isaya Amasi Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission Author
  • Kelvin Mark Mtei The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology Author
  • Chau Nguyen Dinh AGH University of Science and Technology Author
  • Pawel Jodlowski AGH University of Science and Technology Author

Keywords:

Building materials, Radon mass exhalation rate, Annual effective dose, Radiological hazard, Tanzania

Abstract

The fraction of radon (222Rn) generated from building materials by the radioactive decay of radium 226Ra (progeny of 238U) was measured by closed chamber method. The materials involved in this study include cements, gypsum, clay, sandstone and pozzolan which are commonly used directly as building materials. The indoor radon and annual effective doses contributions from the individual material have been derived from the mass exhalation coefficient. The mass exhalation coefficients generated vary from 0.7 to 2.8 % for cements and from 0.3 to 13 % for raw materials. Their indoor radon contribution ranged from 3.1-1012.3 Bq/m3; these values are in the permissible range of 600-1500 Bq/m3 for dwellings and working places respectively as recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) for building materials.

Author Biographies

  • Aloyce Isaya Amasi, Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission

    Department of Research and Development
    amasia@nm-aist.ac.tz

  • Kelvin Mark Mtei, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology

    Department of Water and Environmental Science and Engineering

  • Chau Nguyen Dinh, AGH University of Science and Technology

    Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science

  • Pawel Jodlowski, AGH University of Science and Technology

    Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science

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Published

2025-10-15

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2015): THE TANZANIA ENGINEER JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS TANZANIA

Section

Articles