Assessment of health risks due to natural radioactivity of some building materials in Algeria

This study aims to evaluate the radiation doses from building materials, including sand, cement, brick, faience, plaster and marble, collected from different sites in eastern Algeria. The specific activities of natural radionuclides, mainly represented by the natural radioactive series 238U, 232Th and primordial 40K, were determined using a gamma spectrometry system equipped with a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. Radiological hazard parameters (Raeq, Hex, Hin, Iγ and Iα) associated with these activities were calculated to determine the suitability of the construction materials. To assess their radiological risks to human health, an analysis of absorbed dose rate (D), annual effective dose (AED) and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) was performed and the results examined and compared with those reported elsewhere. The findings obtained for these samples are within the limits of internationally recommended values.