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Natural radioactivity and hazard-level assessment of Portland cements in Turkey

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Abstract

The natural radioactivity levels and some radiological parameters of Turkish Portland cements (PC) originated in various regions were determined in this study. The activity concentration of cement samples for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were measured using a gamma-ray spectrometer with high purity germanium radiation detector. The PC samples had activity concentrations of 33.0, 16.7, and 239.5 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, respectively. The mean value of radium equivalent value (Raeq) was found to be 75.4 Bq kg−1. The radium equivalent values in the cement samples were lower than the acceptable level of 370 Bq kg−1. The calculated radiological parameters were found to be below the acceptance levels.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Research Fund of the Istanbul University. Project Number: BYP-53529.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Istanbul University, Avcilar, 34320, Istanbul, Turkey

    Mehmet Altun

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Istanbul University, Avcilar, 34320, Istanbul, Turkey

    Naim Sezgin, Semih Nemlioglu & Nuri Can

  3. TAEK, Cekmece Nuclear Research, and Training Center, Istanbul, Turkey

    Bektas Karakelle

  4. Property Protection and Security Department, Civil Defense and Fire Fighting Program, Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Istanbul University, Avcilar, 34320, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ugur Emre Temelli

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  1. Mehmet Altun
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  2. Naim Sezgin
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  5. Nuri Can
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Correspondence to Naim Sezgin.

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Altun, M., Sezgin, N., Nemlioglu, S. et al. Natural radioactivity and hazard-level assessment of Portland cements in Turkey. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 314, 941–948 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5476-7

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