Emanation of Radon Gas from Building Materials

Authors

  • Paitoon Wanabongse Research Section on Environment and Safety, Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology
  • Touchaphong Srisuwan Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University
  • Chalermwat Tantasavasdi Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University
  • Jayada Boonyakiat Faculty of Architecture and Design, King Mongkutûs University of Technology Thonburi
  • Somchai Bovornkitti The Academy of Science, the Royal Institute

Keywords:

radon gas, building materials, concrete slab, fly ash, phosphogypsumTuM7/1

Abstract

Evaluation of radon gas emanated from industrial by-products, i.e., fly ash from coal-fired power plant and phosphogypsum from fertilizer production plant revealed the following findings: (1) the concrete slab containing phosphogypsum released greater amounts of radon gas than that released from the concrete slab containing fly ash; (2) phosphogypsum powder released radon gas 407 Bq/kg and fly ash released 24 Bq/kg; (3) phosphogypsum contained radium-226 amounts as high as 1,119 Bq/kg, while fly ash contained only 184 Bq/kg; this is the reason explaining the difference in the released amounts of radon gas between the two materials.

Key words: radon gas, building materials, concrete slab, fly ash, phosphogypsumTuM7/1

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Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2007): January - March

Section

Original Articles