Natural radioactivity and dose assessment of granitic rocks from the Atticocycladic Zone (Greece)

Authors

  • Argyrios Papadopoulos <p>Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Economic Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece</p>
  • Georgios Christofides <p>Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Economic Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece</p>
  • Antonios Koroneos <p>Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Economic Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece</p>
  • Stylianos Stoulos <p>Laboratory of Atomic and Nuclear Physics, School of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece</p>
  • Constantinos Papastefanou <p>Laboratory of Atomic and Nuclear Physics, School of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece</p>

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2451/2012PM0017

Keywords:

Granitic rocks, Natural radioactivity, Building materials, Dose assessment, Atticocycladic Zone

Abstract

The activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K of granite samples taken from the Atticocycladic Zone were measured by gamma-ray spectrometry. These concentrations were compared to the commercial granites imported in Greece and Cyprus. The absorbed, the annual effective dose and the gamma-ray index were determined, so as to assess the radiological impact from the granites investigated, in case they were used as building materials. The range of the absorbed dose rate, the annual effective dose and the gamma index was around a mean value of 86 ± 30 nGy h-1, 0.6 ± 0.2 mSv y-1 and 1.0 ± 0.2, respectively. Taking into consideration the internal exposure due to radon inhalation, the annual effective dose, in a room fully constructed by granite, varies between 0.4 and 1.4 mSv y-1. Consequently, since the contribution of the granitic rocks to the total mass of most of the constructions is very low, the samples investigated could be used safely as building materials.

Author Biographies

Argyrios Papadopoulos, <p>Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Economic Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece</p>

Post doc candidate. Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Economic Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Georgios Christofides, <p>Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Economic Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece</p>

Professor. Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Economic Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Antonios Koroneos, <p>Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Economic Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece</p>

Professor. Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Economic Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Stylianos Stoulos, <p>Laboratory of Atomic and Nuclear Physics, School of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece</p>

Professor. Laboratory of Atomic and Nuclear Physics, School of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Constantinos Papastefanou, <p>Laboratory of Atomic and Nuclear Physics, School of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece</p>

Professor. Laboratory of Atomic and Nuclear Physics, School of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

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Published

2012-11-28

Issue

Vol. 81 No. 3 (2012)

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE