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Assessment of natural radioactivity and radon exhalation rate associated with rock properties used for construction in greater Accra region, Ghana

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Abstract

Natural radioactivity, radon exhalation and rock properties have been studied using gamma spectrometry, CR-39 detectors and weighing methods. Statistical tool was used to study the relationship between the activity concentration and properties associated with the rocks. The purpose is to determine the rocks with good properties and lower radioactivity levels in order to reduce radiological effect when used as building materials. Gneiss recorded good properties while quartzite was found to contain poor and lower value of radiological parameters as compared to granite and sandstone. Radon-222 was found to correlate well with the properties than radionuclides of radium-226, thorium-232 and potassium-40.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to the staff of Centre for Radiation Protection, Agency for Environmental Protection, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Udine, Italy and Central Materials Laboratory, Ghana Highway Authority, Accra, Ghana for their assistance and the use of their facilities for this study. This research was supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Radiation Protection Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission in the form of fellowship training.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiation Protection Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box LG 80, Legon, Accra, Ghana

    Francis Otoo, Emmanuel Ofori Darko, Oscar Kwaku Adukpo, Joseph Kwabena Amoako & Stephen Inkoom

  2. School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box AE1, Atomic Campus, Legon, Accra, Ghana

    Francis Otoo, Emmanuel Ofori Darko, Oscar Kwaku Adukpo, Joseph Kwabena Amoako, Joseph Bremang Tandoh, Stephen Inkoom & Simon Adu

  3. Centre for Radiation Protection, Agency for Environmental Protection, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Via 42 Colugna, 33100, Udine, Italy

    Francis Otoo & Massimo Garavaglia

  4. National Nuclear Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box LG 80, Legon, Accra, Ghana

    Joseph Bremang Tandoh

  5. Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 58, Legon, Accra, Ghana

    Samuel Nunoo

  6. Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Atomic Energy, P. O. Box AE 50, Neutron Avenue House 1&2, Accra, Ghana

    Simon Adu

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  1. Francis Otoo
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Correspondence to Francis Otoo.

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Otoo, F., Darko, E.O., Garavaglia, M. et al. Assessment of natural radioactivity and radon exhalation rate associated with rock properties used for construction in greater Accra region, Ghana. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 328, 911–923 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07709-9

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