Correlation between radon release, radioactivity and mineralogy: a case study of Estonian black sands
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Correlation between radon release, radioactivity and mineralogy: a case study of Estonian black sands Alan H. Tkaczyk1 · Rein Koch2 · Cagatay Ipbüker2 · Johanna‑Iisebel Järvelill3 · Anne Serv2 · Zoltán Sas4 Received: 16 January 2020 © Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2020
Abstract The growing attention to naturally occurring radionuclides in building materials has a significant societal impact. This impact is apparent in recent research studies and the latest European Council directives, where reference levels for indoor radon concentrations and gamma radiation levels are reported. This paper studies black sand samples from the Estonian coast, mainly from Kihnu island. The results are discussed from various aspects to determine if utilization of these sands as a building material component is viable. For this reason, this paper focuses on the mineralogical and radiological characterization of these samples with special attention to radon emanation and exhalation. Furthermore, a detailed correlation study of mineralogical components against emanation and exhalation factors and the levels of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K was performed. It is found that the sand samples are composed of very high heavy mineral content as compared to the rest of Estonia; the black sands studied here include a heavy fraction dominated by garnets and a light fraction characterized by quartz and feldspars. The analysis also indicates that the higher 232Th and 226Ra content in the samples is correlated with an increase in zircon, ore minerals and garnets; on the other hand, the 40K content is connected to amphiboles. A strong correlation was also found between the 226Ra activity concentration and the measured massic exhalation rates. Keywords Radon emanation · Radon exhalation · Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) · Gamma spectrometry · Black sand · Heavy minerals
Introduction The European Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom, currently in force, establishes a new European Basic Safety Standard (EU-BSS) for the general public and workers subject to ionizing radiation. An important aspect of the new EU-BSS is the inclusion of radon gas in the system of radiological protection and the requirement for Member States to develop a national radon action plan. In addition, the new EU-BSS describes the cancer risks from prolonged exposure to indoor * Alan H. Tkaczyk [email protected] 1
Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
2
Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Ostwaldi 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
3
School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Narva Road 25, 10120 Tallinn, Estonia
4
School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast, 39‑123 Stranmillis Rd, Belfast BT9 5AG, UK
radon. Formerly, radon concentrations in dwellings had been referenced or recommended but were not explicitly included in the European directive. It is clear that the addition of protection of public from radon in the new EU-BSS represents a significant paradigm shift and is aligned to rec
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