Determination of indoor doses and excess lifetime cancer risks caused by building materials containing natural radionuclides in Malaysia

Abstract

The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K from 102 building materials samples were determined using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The activity concentrations were evaluated for possible radiological hazards to the human health. The excess lifetime cancer risks (ELCR) were also estimated, and the average values were recorded as 0.42 ± 0.24 × 10−3, 3.22 ± 1.83 × 10−3, and 3.65 ± 1.85 × 10−3 for outdoor, indoor, and total ELCR respectively. The activity concentrations were further subjected to RESRAD-BUILD computer code to evaluate the long-term radiation exposure to a dweller. The indoor doses were assessed from zero up to 70 years. The simulation results were 92 ± 59, 689 ± 566, and 782 ± 569 μSv y−1 for indoor external, internal, and total effective dose equivalent (TEDE) respectively. The results reported were all below the recommended maximum values. Therefore, the radiological hazards attributed to building materials under study are negligible. Keywords: Annual effective dose, Excess lifetime cancer risk, External dose, Internal dose, Total effective dose equivalent