Natural radioactivity and associated radiation hazards in building materials used in Peloponnese, Greece

Five different kinds of building materials (Pozzolanic and Portland cements, limestone, white cement, marble powder and sand) commonly used in building construction in Peloponnese, Greece, and Portland cement's raw materials were analyzed for their natural radioactivity content, using γγ-ray spectrometry. Pozzolanic and Portland cement (Cem II) samples were found to contain the highest average 226Ra, 232Th and 40K activity concentrations compared with the other examined building material samples. This could be attributed to their containing fly ash, which was found to contain high natural radionuclide concentrations, especially that of 226Ra (1041Bqkg-1). Results obtained were compared with the results reported by other Greek researchers and the worldwide values for building materials and soil. The calculated activity concentration index (I)(I) values for all the examined building material samples were lower than the recommended exception limits for exposure to external γγ-radiation.