Primordial radionuclides in the dust samples from the educational institutions of central Bangladesh: radiological risk assessment

Abstract

For the first time, this study presents the radio-activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides in a suite of classroom-dusts collected from 23 schools in central part of Bangladesh. Bulk elemental compositions from instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) were transformed into accompanied radio-activity contents (Bq.kg−1). Mean activity contents of 226Ra, 232Th, & 40K in dust samples were 86.0, 43.4, and 448 Bq.kg−1, respectively, which were comparatively elevated relative to the relevant world average value. Higher NORMs abundances were due to the surface soil weathering and aerodynamic fractionations. Estimation of typical radiological-risk indices demonstrates human health risks. Bearing in mind that the greater susceptibility of school-going juveniles & children to the ionizing-radiations & the entering of NORMs-comprising dust-particle into human lungs, calculated radiological indices merely represent the least potential risk. However, in actual cases, α-particles from the 238U and 232Th-decay series can create significant radiation-damage to the respiratory-system.

Keywords

• Classroom-dust samples
• Primordial radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, 40K)
• Educational institutions
• Environmental distributions
• Radiological health hazards