Estimation of radiological impact on residents due to household storage of coal used for heating in Serbia

Abstract

This paper aims to estimate a potential radiological risk from different kinds of coals used for domestic heating in Serbia, by measuring the activity concentration of radionuclides and radon exhalation rate. The obtained radon mass exhalation rate ranges from (5.3 ± 3.1) mBqkg–1s–1 to (70.3 ± 9.4) mBqkg –1s–1 and was highest for lignite type of coal. It is estimated that coal stored in the basement could contribute up to 50 Bqm–3 of indoor radon concentration at the ground level. Activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, 238U, 235U, and 210Pb in analysed coal samples agree with previously reported concentrations of coal used in Serbia. The values of radium equivalent concentration and external hazard index indicate that the used coal does not represent a significant radiation hazard.

Keywords

• radon exhalation rate
• gamma spectrometry
• radiation hazard index
• coal