Assessment of natural radioactivity in cements used as building materials in Turkey

The radioactivity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in 42 samples from different types of cements produced in Turkey were measured using gamma-ray spectrometer. The determined values were 18–143 Bq kg−1 (226Ra), 5–66 Bq kg−1 (232Th) and 142–540 Bq kg−1 (40K). Additionally, the calculated radiological hazard parameters such as absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose, radium equivalent activity, the external hazard, activity and alpha indices were found to be in the range of 38–158 nGy h−1, 188–776 µSv year−1, 41–182 Bq kg−1, 0.11–0.49, 0.15–0.65 and 0.09–0.71, respectively. Finally, the results were statistically evaluated and compared with the reported data in other countries and the international standard values given by European Commission and UNSCEAR.