Microsoft Word - 19-24   19  Ibn Al-Haitham Jour. for Pure & Appl. Sci. 33 (2) 2020       Measurement of Radioactivity in Some Commercial Porcelain Samples by Using HPGe Detector Article history: Received 11 June 2019, Accepted 28 August 2019, Published in April 2020. Abstract Estimations of specific activity concentrations in eight commercial porcelain tiles made in different countries were performed by the use of HPGe detector. We have found that the highest specific activity concentrations for 238U, 40K were equal to (21.120 Bq/kg) and (283.862 Bq/kg) respectively, Iranian origin, while the highest specific activity concentration for 232Th was found to be equal to (29.292 Bq/kg), Iraqi origin; all of which were less than their corresponding recommended values given by (UNSCEAR, 2000). The radiation hazard indices [Iɣ , Hin ,Hex , Raeq ,DƔ , (AEDE) in and (AEDE) out] were also studied and their values were less than the allowed values determined by (UNSCEAR, 2000). Therefore, all the studied tiles of commercial porcelain are safe when used, for example, in floor constructions. Keyword: Radiation hazard indices, porcelain samples, HPGe detector. 1. Introduction Humans are constantly presented to ionizing radiation because of radiation sources. Other than radiation made by human, the radiation primary source is a characteristic of radioactivity [1]. The radionuclides of 238U, 40K and 232Th can be found nearly in a wide range of materials which are produced from the earth's crust [2]. These radionuclides  enter into the bodies through the food, water and air [3]. These radionuclides and daughters dispose some dangers because of their emissions of beta and gamma rays and because of radon and its daughters which emits alpha particles [4]. The human body contains slight amounts of naturally occurring radioactive elements in muscles, bones and tissues. Specifically radioactive gases like radon are gathered in the distinctive segments of the body and add to the interior measurement by ingestion and inward breath. Since people spend the greater part of their time (about 80%) indoors, it is vital to get Ibn Al Haitham Journal for Pure and Applied Science Journal homepage: http://jih.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/j/index Mahmood Salim Karim Firas Hashem Ahmed Ali N. Mohammed Doi: 10.30526/33.2.2439 Hazim Louis Mansour Department of Physics, College of Education, University of Mustansiriyah Department of Physics, College of Education, University of Mustansiriyah firas.hashem@yahoo.com   20  Ibn Al-Haitham Jour. for Pure & Appl. Sci. 33 (2) 2020 Information about natural radioactivity to decide the amount of public exposure in flooring materials [5]. We use HPGe detector to determine the specific activity concentrations and radiation hazard indices for some commercial porcelain tiles, which is the aim of this paper. 2. Materials and Method Eight commercial porcelain tiles were gathered from various different markets and industrial facilities. The tiles were picked from most regular Iraqi markets, see Figure 1. Each tile was pounded into small pieces, then into fine powder by utilizing jaw crusher. The tiles were dried at 100 °C for one hour to guarantee that any moisture was expelled from the tests. In order to acquire uniform molecular sizes, a (500 μm) mesh was utilized, and then, the tiles were weighted (one kg) and transferred to a Marinelli beaker. The HPGe system which was used in the present work was a (3×3) inch, see Figure 2. A fundamental prerequisite to estimate a gamma producer was the character of photo peaks showed in the spectrum made by the detector system. Calibration of energy was done by utilizing a standard source of Marinelli beaker of Eu-152, set up with energies (411.1, 344.3, 1408.0, 964.0, 444.6, 778.9, 1085.8, 121.8, 1112.0 and 244.7 keV). Figure 1. Some porcelain tiles used in the present work. Figure 2. HPGe system used in the present work.   21  Ibn Al-Haitham Jour. for Pure & Appl. Sci. 33 (2) 2020 The equation which was used to obtain the specific activity concentrations in porcelain tiles is [6]. 𝑨 𝑵 𝑩𝑮 𝑻.𝑰𝜸 𝑬𝜸 .ℇ 𝑬𝜸 .𝑴 (1) Where: A: represents the specific activity of radioactive elements. N: area of the photo peak at energy (Eγ). B.G: net peak area of the background. Ɛ(Eγ): detector efficiency. Iγ (Eγ): abundance. M: mass of the sample (kg). T: duration of measuring procedure (7200 s).  Radiation Hazard Indices 1- Radium Equivalent Activity (Raeq) [6]. Raeq = 1.43ATh + 0.077AK + AU (2) Where ATh, Ak and AU are the specific activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K, respectively in (Bq/kg) units. 2- Absorbed Gamma Dose Rate (DƔ) [7]. Dɣ = 0.604ATh + 0.0417AK + 0.462AU + (3) [8]. )out, AEDE in(AEDE The Annual Effective Dose Equivalent -3 (AEDE) in = Dɣ (nGy/h) × 10-6 × (0.7 Sv/Gy) × 8760 h/y × 0.80 (4) (AEDE)out= Dɣ (nGy/h) × 10-6 ×(0.7 Sv/Gy)× × 8760 h/y × 0.20 (5) 4- Internal and External Hazard Indices (Hin , Hex) [9]. 1 4810259185  KThUin AAA H (6) 1 4810259370  KThUex AAA H (7) 5- Activity Concentration Index (Iɣ) [10]. 3000200300 KThU γ AAA I  (8)   22  Ibn Al-Haitham Jour. for Pure & Appl. Sci. 33 (2) 2020 3. Results and Discussions Table 1. Contains the results of the present work. It can be noticed that the specific activity of (238U) was found to be varied from (14.830 Bq/kg) (Syrian origin) to (21.120 Bq/kg) (Iranian origin), with a mean  value of (17.968±2.248 Bq/kg), see Figure 3. Which do not reach the preferred value (35 Bq/kg) for the specific activity of 238U specified by (UNSCEAR, 2000). Specific activity of (232Th) was found to be ranged from (19.564 Bq/kg) (Spanish origin) to (29.292 Bq/kg) (Iraqi origin), with a mean value of (24.282±3.168 Bq/kg), see Figure 3. Which do not reach the preferred value (30 Bq/kg) for the specific activity of 232Th specified by (UNSCEAR, 2000). Specific activity of (40K) was found to be ranged from (154.070 Bq/kg) (Vietnamese origin) to (283.862 Bq/kg) (Iranian origin), with an average value of (222.715±47.09 Bq/kg), see Figure 3. Which do not reach the preferred value (400 Bq/kg) for the specific activity of 40K specified by (UNSCEAR, 2000). Radium equivalent activity (Raeq) was ranged from (59.289 Bq/kg) (Syrian origin) to (80.348 Bq/kg) (Iraqi origin), with a mean value of (69.841±5.756 Bq/kg). These values do not reach the preferred value (370 Bq/kg) for the (Raeq) specified by (UNSCEAR, 2000). Absorbed dose rate (DƔ) was ranged from (27.259 nGy/h) (Syrian origin) to (37.142 nGy/h) (Iraqi origin), with a mean value of (32.255±2.7 nGy/h). These values do not reach the preferred value (55 nGy/h) for the (DƔ) specified by (UNSCEAR, 2000). The (AEDE) was found to be ranged from (0.134 mSv/y) (Syrian origin) to (0.182 mSv/y) (Iraqi origin), with a mean value of (0.158±0.013 mSv/y which do not reach the preferred value (1 mSv/y) for the (AEDE)in specified by (UNSCEAR, 2000). (AEDE)out was found to be ranged from (0.033 mSv/y) (Syrian origin) to (0.046 mSv/y) (Iraqi origin), with a mean value of (0.040±0.003mSv/y which do not reach the preferred value (1 mSv/y) for the (AEDE)out specified by (UNSCEAR, 2000). The internal hazard Index (Hin) was ranged from (0.200) (Syrian origin) to (0.266) (Italian origin), with an average value of (0.237±0.019). Which do not reach the preferred value (1) for the (Hin) specified by (UNSCEAR, 2000). The external hazard Index (Hex) was ranged from (0.160) (Syrian origin) to (0.217) (Iraqi origin), with an average value of (0.189±0.015). Which do not reach the preferred value (1) for the (Hex) specified by (UNSCEAR, 2000). Activity concentration index (Iɣ) was found to be ranged from (0.216) (Syrian origin) to (0.296) (Iraqi origin), with an average value of (0.256±0.021) which do not reach the preferred value of (1) for the (Iɣ) specified by (UNSCEAR, 2000).   23  Ibn Al-Haitham Jour. for Pure & Appl. Sci. 33 (2) 2020 Figure 3. specific activity of (238U, 232Th and 40K) for all porcelain tiles studied in the present work. 4. Conclusion All results concerning values of the specific activity for ( 238U, 232Th and 40K) and radiation hazard indices [Iɣ , Hin ,Hex , Raeq ,DƔ , (AEDE) in and (AEDE) out] were found to be less than their permitted limits and it will not pose relatively serious health risk when used, for example, in floor contractions. Table 1. Origin, specific activity concentrations and hazard indices for the commercial porcelain samples studied in the present work. ƔI Hazard index (A.E.D.E)  (mSv/y) ƔD (nGy/h) eqRa (Bq/kg) 40K (Bq/kg ) 232Th (Bq/kg ) 238U (Bq/kg ) Origin  No . exH inHOutdoor outE Indoor inE 0.228 0.171 0.227 0.036 0.142 28.98 5 63.33 0 154.07 0 21.480 20.750 Vietna m 1 0.246 0.184 0.226 0.038 0.151 30.86 4 67.96 6 167.92 0 27.620 15.540 China 2 0.252 0.184 0.226 0.039 0.155 31.67 0 68.29 3 241.54 3 24.024 15.340 India 3 0.296 0.217 0.264 0.046 0.182 37.14 2 80.34 8 274.29 5 29.292 17.340 Iraq 4 0.216 0.160 0.200 0.033 0.134 27.25 9 59.28 9 177.54 1 21.530 14.830 Syria 5 0.281 0.209 0.266 0.043 0.174 35.45 7 77.56 4 202.95 1 28.606 21.030 Italy 6 0.250 0.182 0.230 0.039 0.155 31.69 7 67.30 1 279.54 1 19.564 17.800 Spain 7 0.276 0.202 0.259 0.043 0.172 34.96 7 74.63 8 283.86 2 22.140 21.120 Iran 8 0.216 0.160 0.200 0.033 0.134 27.25 9 59.28 9 154.07 0 19.564 14.830 Min. 0.296 0.217 0.266 0.046 0.182 37.14 2 80.34 8 283.86 2 29.292 21.120 Max. 0.256±0.02 1 0.189 ±0.01 5 0.237 ±0.01 9 0.040 ±0.00 3 0.158 ±0.01 3 32.25 5 ±2.7 69.84 1 ±5.75 6 222.71 5 ±47.09 24.282 ±3.168 17.968 ±2.248 Average 1 1 1 1 1 55 370 400 30 35 worldwide average [11]   24  Ibn Al-Haitham Jour. for Pure & Appl. 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