Radiological aspects for use of woodchip ashes in building industry

In this paper, we focused in particular to the use of concrete containing highly contaminated ashes, being considered as the most relevant from the radioprotection point of view. Therefore, some evaluations of the public exposure to radiations coming from concrete utilized as building material and containing woodchip ashes with high radioactivity levels (specifically 137Cs and 40K) have been done. The dose estimates for a person living in a house built with “contaminated” concrete were made using both standardized gamma radiation exposure indices and simulation models. The results are presented and discussed. Finally, a new formulation of the activity concentration index I is proposed for a safe and radioprotection sound use of building material containing woodchip ashes.