International Journal of Radiation Research

en Radiometric and radon exhalation rate analysis of Gahirat marble, Chitral Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Radiation Biology Radiation Biology تحقيق بديع Original Research <div style="text-align: justify;">Background: Geological materials usually contain trace amounts of radioactive materials and may serve as a natural source of background radiation exposure to the general public. This study presents results of radiometric and radon exhalation rate (RER) analysis of 28, export quality marble samples taken from various quarries of Gahirat Chitral area. Materials and Methods: The marble specimens were investigated using gamma spectroscopy by HPGe detector. Samples were also analyzed for radon exhalation rate using closed CAN technique. Results and Discussion: The mean values of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were found as 31.598± 0.989, 1.529± 0.308 and 5.273± 1.593Bqkg-1 respectively. Average value of Raeq was estimated as 34.19±1.55 Bqkg-1. Radiation risk parameters viz. internal (Hin), external (Hex), alpha (Iα) and gamma (Iγ) hazard indices were estimated and found less than unity value. The values for effective indoor (Ḋin) and outdoor gamma dose rates (Ḋout) due to the contents of primordial radionuclides were also estimated. The contribution of radon towards radiation exposure was assessed by estimating RER, which was found in the range (1.01±0.07 to 9.67±0.27) ×10-2 Bqm-2 h-1 with mean value of (5.84±0.002) ×10-2 Bqm-2 h-1. Conclusion: The surface radon exhalation rate values estimated in the current study were found smaller than as reported for many other countries. The results obtained for gamma emitting radionuclides have been compared with the data available in the literature. Measurements shows that marble samples investigated have low concentrations of radionuclides and uses of marbles in dwellings do not pose significant threat to the inhabitants.</div> Radiometric analysis, radium, thorium, potassium, Gahirat marble, dimension stone, Chitral. 473 481 http://ijrr.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-932&slc_lang=en&sid=1 S.A. Ali Bukhari 7900319475328460021689 7900319475328460021689 No Institute of Geology University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 13100, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan A. Jabbar 7900319475328460021690 7900319475328460021690 No Health Physics Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology (PINSTECH), Nilore, Islamabad 45650, Pakistan M. Basharat 7900319475328460021691 7900319475328460021691 No Institute of Geology University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 13100, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan S. Ur Rahman 7900319475328460021692 7900319475328460021692 No Department of Medical Physics, Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute, Islamabad, Pakistan M. Rafique mrafique@ajku.edu.pk 7900319475328460021693 7900319475328460021693 Yes Department of Physics University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, King Abdullah Campus, Chatter Kalas Muzaffarbad, 13100, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan