Levels of Radon and Granite Building Materials

Abstract

Natural radioactivities in granite building materials that are commonly used in the world have been surveyed two type methods: a passive measurement method and an active measurement method. In the passive measurement method, after sample prepa- ration, the concentration of 226Ra is measured in the samples. The measuring procedure carried out by using a gamma-ray spectrometry system with a high purity germanium detector. Also, in the active measurement method, an alpha GURD model PQ 2000 radon meter is used directly. In this method, a standard room is considered ((4.0 m? 5.0 m area ? 2.8 height) that ground and walls have been covered with granite stones, we calculated radon concentration and radon exhalation rate. Moreover, the results of the exhalation rates measured by passive and active methods are compared and the results are the same, within errors better than 22%. Keywords: