Calculation of gamma radiation dose rate and radon concentration due to granites used as building materials in Iran.

Natural radioactivity concentrations in granite building materials that are commonly used in Iran have been surveyed by using a gamma-ray spectrometry system, using a high-purity germanium detector. Health hazards from gamma radiation doses due to granite and radon concentration have been calculated. The dose rate of exposure from granite building materials on humans is obtained as a result of an external exposure from gamma-emitting radionuclides in the granites. Another mode of exposure is from the inhalation of the decay products of (222)Ra and (220)Ra. The average concentrations of (232)Th, (226)Ra and (40)K were in the ranges of 6.5-172.2, 3.8-94.2 and 556.9-1539.2 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The radon exhalation rates have also been studied and values were in the range of 0.32 ± 0.01 to 7.86 ± 1.65 Bq m(-2) h(-1). For two models of standard living rooms (5.0 m × 4.0 m area; 2.8 m), the radon concentration (Ci) and the absorbed dose (D) rates were calculated and the results were found to be 10.64-29.32 Bq m(-3), 3.84-68.02 nGy h(-1) and 0.02-0.33 mSv y(-1) for Model 1, 10.07-15.38 Bq m(-3) and 2.29-39.99 nGy h(-1) for Model 2, respectively. According to our estimations, mechanical ventilation systems (λν = 0.5 h(-1)) in a room all granite samples would produce radon concentration <100 Bq m(-3).