Radiation map for King Abdulaziz University campus and surrounding areas

Abstract

King Abdulaziz University (KAU) buildings are expanded to accept more students and research centers. Many of the new buildings were constructed using granitic rocks as building materials. Granitic rock contains radioactive elements (U, Th, K). These elements by time emit radiation which could affect human health. Surely, radiation dose depends on radioactive element percentage in the rock, open or closed area, radiation period,....etc. When radiation occurs, gamma rays (or radon gas produced by the decay of U and Th) are detected everywhere causing damage in human body cells when being high. For the above-mentioned reasons, Geohazards Research Center, KAU surveyed the whole university campus and surrounding areas using gamma ray spectrometer in order to map the radioactive elements and estimate the dose rate. Results indicate that most of all university buildings have low dose rate while the new buildings have little high dose rate (3.46 mSv/y). These high values are due to the new granitic building materials covering the walls, floors, columns, ponds of agriculture. As the university staff are not staying their lives within the university, fewer hazards occur, but more safety recommendations should be taken into consideration.