Article

Evaluation of the radiation dose due to the use of fly ash from thermal power plants as a building material

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Section, Health Safety and Environment Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, 400085 Mumbai, India.

^* ggp@barc.gov.in

Received: 14 July 2015
Accepted: 15 February 2016

Abstract

A study was undertaken to evaluate the radiation doses arising from a dwelling built using fly ash as one of the components of the concrete in different proportions. The radioactivity contents of the fly ash samples were determined and doses to occupants were calculated assuming different scenarios. The internal dose in an office and home were in the range of 0.028 to 0.049 mSv year^-1 and 0.099 to 0.17 mSv year^-1, respectively. The external doses ranged between 0.046 and 0.21 mSv year^-1 in the office and 0.1 and 0.69 mSv year^-1 in the home. The cumulative dose from the use of fly ash as a building material ranged from 0.074 to 0.26 mSv year^-1 in the office and 0.2 to 0.86 mSv year^-1 in the home.