NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY OF SAND SAMPLES FROM TRANSYLVANIA AREA AND ASSESSMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS ON CIVIL AND LIVESTOCK HOUSING

The present paper focuses upon the analysis of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K radionuclides, making use of high-resolution HPGe .spectrometry devices. By means of this technique, the radiological risk is investigated in the case of various sand samples. The natural concentrations for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, from sand samples, ranged from (9.3-20.0 Bqkg-1), (9.1-23.7 Bqkg-1) and (203.5-403.3 Bqkg-1), respectively. The radium equivalent activity of sands under investigation was also analyzed and ranged from 45 to 83 Bqkg-1. The radiation hazard due to the use of sand as a building material on civil and livestock buildings was also estimated by a set of hazard indices such as Hext and Iyr, respectively. The geological structure of the sand collection areas is discussed, too. The results of the research show that the samples under analysis are defined by a low natural radioactivity, meaning that they can be used as building materials (mortars, concretes) components, in civil and livestock construction, without enhancing their natural radioactivity.