Radionuclide concentration and radon exhalation in new mix design of bricks produced reusing NORM by-products: The influence of mineralogy and texture

Coletti, Chiara; Brattich, Erika; Cinelli, Giorgia; Cultrone, Giuseppe; Maritan, Lara; Mazzoli, Claudio; Mostacci, Domiziano; Tositti, Laura; Sassi, Raffaele

doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119820

Cited by 17 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…The clinker for this Portland cement is manufactured from a mixture of two main components—limestones and clays—which undergo clinkering at temperatures between 1450 and 1500 °C. Both limestones and clays have minor components other than SiO 2 , CaO, Al 2 O 3 , and Fe 2 O 3 that become part of minor phases of Portland cement clinker [ 7 ]. The importance of the raw materials used in clinkerization is the key factor for the final composition of the clinker phases and will therefore determine the properties of the final material [ 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As previously stated, our working hypothesis is that the ACI can be estimated by understanding the relationship between the chemical compositions and activity concentrations of the natural radioactive series (uranium, thorium, and actinium) and 40 K in ordinary Portland cement (OPC), calcium aluminate cement (CAC), calcium sulfoaluminate cement (CSA), FA, and slags. To test our hypothesis, correlations between the chemical compositions, obtained through X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and radioactive content, obtained through gamma spectrometry, were sought using principal component analysis (PCA) and HJ–Biplots based on previous studies [ 7 ]. Subsequently, we determined which models identified a relationship between the different quantities using multivariable linear regression with a backward stepwise approach.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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New Approach to Determine the Activity Concentration Index in Cements, Fly Ashes, and Slags on the Basis of Their Chemical Composition

et al. 2023

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The manufacture of Portland cement entails high energy and environmental costs, and various solutions have been implemented in recent years to mitigate this negative impact. These solutions include improvements in the manufacture of cement clinker or the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), such as fly ash (FA) or slag as a replacement for a portion of the clinker in cement. The incorporation of these SCMs in cement may increase its radiological content as they are naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs). The Activity Concentration Index (ACI) is a screening tool established in the European EURATOM Directive 2013/59 to determine the radiation protection suitability of a final construction material. The ACI is determined by the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, usually determined by gamma spectrometry. The methodology of gamma spectrometry is accurate and appropriate, but this technique is not available in all laboratories. For this reason, and taking into account that there is a relationship between the chemical and radiological composition of these building materials, a new approach is proposed to determine the radiological content of these materials from a chemical analysis such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF). In this paper, principal component analysis (PCA) is used to establish the relationships between the chemical composition and radiological content of cements, FAs, and slags of different natures. Through PCA it was possible to group the cements based on two variables: CaO content and Fe2O3–Al2O3–TiO2 content. A lower correlation was observed for the FAs and slags, as the sample scores were centered around the origin of the coordinates and showed greater dispersion than the cements. The clusters obtained in the HJ–Biplots allowed the determination, using multiple regression, of models relating the activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th (212Pb), and 40K to the oxide percentages obtained for the three matrices studied. The models were validated using five cements, one FA and one slag with relative percentage deviations (RSD(%)) equal to or less than 30% for 89% of the activity concentrations and 100% of the ACI determined.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Approach to Determine the Activity Concentration Index in Cements, Fly Ashes, and Slags on the Basis of Their Chemical Composition

et al. 2023

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“…The behavior of free radon can depend on a high degree of influencing factors, starting with climatic parameters (temperature, humidity, pressure) and physical parameters of the geological environment (for example, gas permeability of rocks, soils, porosity, density), as well as mineralogical composition and complex geochemical processes and relationships, on which the existence of both the parent radionuclide radium-226 and its daughter radionuclide, radon-222, depends (IAEA 2013; Krupp et al 2017). Some authors (Banerjee et al 2011;Pereira et al 2017;Li et al 2018;Coletti et al 2020) indicate the importance of considering the parameters of porosity and density of the rock, which in turn depend on the temperature processes occurring after magmatic crystallization. Radon formed in a solid can enter the surrounding space both due to radioactive recoil and due to diffusion (Titaeva, 2000).…”

Section: Permafrost As a Barrier To Radioactive Radon Gasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon Hazard In Permafrost Conditions: Current State Of Research

Puchkov

Yakovlev

Hasson

et al. 2021

GES

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In this paper, we review both practical and theoretical assessments for evaluating radon geohazards from permafrost landforms in northern environments (>60º N). Here, we show that polar amplification (i.e. climate change) leads to the development of thawing permafrost, ground subsidence, and thawed conduits (i.e. Taliks), which allow radon migration from the subsurface to near surface environment. Based on these survey results, we conjecture that abruptly thawing permafrost soils will allow radon migration to the near surface, and likely impacting human settlements located here. We analyze potential geohazards associated with elevated ground concentrations of natural radionuclides. From these results, we apply the main existing legislation governing the control of radon parameters in the design, construction and use of buildings, as well as existing technologies for assessing the radon hazard. We found that at present, these laws do not consider our findings, namely, that increasing supply of radon to the surface during thawing of permafrost will enhance radon exposure, thereby, changing prior assumptions from which the initial legislation was determined. Hence, the legislation will likely need to respond and reconsider risk assessments of public health in relation to radon exposure. We discuss the prospects for developing radon geohazard monitoring, methodical approaches, and share recommendations based on the current state of research in permafrost effected environments.

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“…As a consequence, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking 2 . IRC in buildings is the main target variable of current regulations 3 , 4 ; however, this parameter is controlled by soil-gas radon concentration, which is commonly assumed to be primarily correlated to the amount of uranium content in soils and rocks (geogenic radon; GR). GR is usually quantified by the Geogenic Radon Potential (GRP) that represents what “Earth delivers” in terms of radon available to enter buildings, and it can be considered as an indicator of the susceptibility of an area to geogenic radon 5 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of tectonically enhanced radon in fault zones by quantification of the radon activity index

Benà

Ciotoli

Ruggiero

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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This work highlights the importance of the Geogenic Radon Potential (GRP) component originated by degassing processes in fault zones. This Tectonically Enhanced Radon (TER) can increase radon concentration in soil gas and the inflow of radon in the buildings (Indoor Radon Concentrations, IRC). Although tectonically related radon enhancement is known in areas characterised by active faults, few studies have investigated radon migration processes in non-active fault zones. The Pusteria Valley (Bolzano, north-eastern Italy) represents an ideal geological setting to study the role of a non-seismic fault system in enhancing the geogenic radon. Here, most of the municipalities are characterised by high IRC. We performed soil gas surveys in three of these municipalities located along a wide section of the non-seismic Pusteria fault system characterised by a dense network of faults and fractures. Results highlight the presence of high Rn concentrations (up to 800 kBq·m−3) with anisotropic spatial patterns oriented along the main strike of the fault system. We calculated a Radon Activity Index (RAI) along north–south profiles across the Pusteria fault system and found that TER is linked to high fault geochemical activities. This evidence confirms that TER constitutes a significant component of GRP also along non-seismic faults.

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Radionuclide concentration and radon exhalation in new mix design of bricks produced reusing NORM by-products: The influence of mineralogy and texture

Cited by 17 publications

References 61 publications

New Approach to Determine the Activity Concentration Index in Cements, Fly Ashes, and Slags on the Basis of Their Chemical Composition

New Approach to Determine the Activity Concentration Index in Cements, Fly Ashes, and Slags on the Basis of Their Chemical Composition

Radon Hazard In Permafrost Conditions: Current State Of Research

Evaluation of tectonically enhanced radon in fault zones by quantification of the radon activity index

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