en Radiation Biology Radiation Biology گزارش کوتاه Short Report <p style="text-align: justify;">Background: The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in sand used as building material in Weifang of China were investigated for evaluating the radiation hazard. Materials and Methods: Sand samples were collected from Weifang and their radioactivity levels were measured using gamma-ray spectrometry. The radiation hazard for residents was assessed by radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), indoor air absorbed dose rate (D), annual effective dose (AED) and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR). Results: The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K ranged from 11.7 to 23.0, 33.6 to 126.1 and 353.2 to 924.8 Bq kg^&minus;1 with averages of 15.5, 70.3 and 802.9 Bq kg^-1, respectively. All Ra_eq values were lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg^-1. The mean value of D was higher than the world population-weighted average of 84 nGy h^-1, while the mean AED and ELCR values were below the internationally accepted values. Conclusions: The use of sand in construction of dwellings is considered to be safe for inhabitants.</p> <p></p> Gamma-ray spectroscopy, natural radioactivity, radiation hazard, excess lifetime cancer risk, sand. 225 228 http://ijrr.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-670&slc_lang=en&sid=1 N. Yin 790031947532846009737 790031947532846009737 No School of Tourism and Environment, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710062, P.R. China X. Lu luxinwei@snnu.edu.cn 790031947532846009738 790031947532846009738 Yes School of Tourism and Environment, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710062, P.R. China Y. Li 790031947532846009739 790031947532846009739 No School of Tourism and Environment, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710062, P.R. China