A Study of Radon and thoron Gases Release from Kirkuk governorate in some Building Materials Using Passive and Active Methods RAD7

Abstract

Radon is the most important natural radioactive factor harmfully influencing the human population, because radon is radioactive gas comes from the natural decay of uranium deposits in soil, rocks, and water, which is harmful on human and environment. this study was concerned with the use of calibrated long-tube technique equipped with calibrated CR-39 passive track detector, and the use of RAD7 active solid state detector for measuring activity concentration and exhalation rate of radon and thoron gases from 20 building materials which are used in construction in the Kirkuk governorate. The lower and higher values of the radon activity concentration , radon exhalation rate by using CR-39 plastic track detector have been recorded for samples of (Iraqi plaster and Jordan paint) was found to be (21.32±4.61 Bq.m-3, 94.1±9.7 Bq.m-3) , (4.79 , 29.178 mBq.m-2.h-1 ), (0.145 ,5.29 mBq.Kg-1.h-1) respectively. The lower and higher values of the thoron activity concentration , thoron exhalation rate by using CR-39 plastic track detector have been recorded for samples of (Iraqi plaster and Jordan paint) was found to be(7.10±2.66 Bq.m-3 , 78±8.86 Bq.m-3),( 1.59 mBq.m-2.h-1 , 21.178 mBq.m-2.h-1),( 0.055 mBq.Kg.-1.h-1, 1.29 mBq.Kg-1.h-1) respectively. Finally, it was concluded that the levels of the radon and thoron exhalation rates in Kirkuke governorate building materials are within the internationally acceptable values.