Investigation on ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁸Th, 40⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs Concentrations in Common Polishing Materials Consumed by Inhabitants in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Knowledge of radioactivity present in polishing materials enables one to assess any possible radiological risks to human health. In this work, the radioactivity due to the presence of 226 Ra, 232 Th, 40 K, and 37 Cs has been measured in polishing materials con-sumed in Saudi Arabia using gamma spectrometry with HPGe. The activity concentra-tions of 226 Ra, 232 Th, 40 K and 137 Cs ranged from 13.61 ± 0.005 to 0.60 ± 0.002, 18.43 ± 0.003 to 0.78 ± 0.001, 342.59 ± 0.009 to 2.47 ± 0.001 and 1.47 ± 0.001 to 0.55 ± 0.001 Bq/l, respectively. For 226 Ra and 40 K, the highest values are measured in stainless steel polisher. The highest values also measured in metal polisher (copper-chrome) and disinfectant cleaner and polisher sample for 232 Th and 137 Cs. Radium equivalent activ-ity due to the natural radioactivity of the investigated samples ranged from 51.37 to 1.24 Bq/l. This value is less than the recommended values in the established standards. The evaluated data were compared with the literature data. Our results indicate that no significant radiological hazards arise from using investigated samples hence quite safe to be used as polishing materials.