Radiation doses received by humans in their dwellings – A baseline report on radionuclides exposure from construction materials used in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Gamma-ray spectrometry was employed to assess the activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides (238U, 232Th, and 40K) in various construction materials, including those used for building, roofing, furnishing, flooring, and plastering. The measured activity concentrations of the radionuclides ranged as follows: 238U (25 to 477 Bq kg–1), 232Th (below detection limit to 239 Bq kg–1), and 40K (285 to 1915 Bq kg–1). Based on these values, the materials were categorized in descending order of radioactivity threat as: Furnishing > Roofing > Building > Flooring > Plastering. The potential radiation dose and radiological hazards to occupants from continuous exposure were estimated using risk parameters. The absorbed dose rates for flooring (217.7 nGy h–1), building (286.9 nGy h–1), furnishing (353.1 nGy h–1), roofing (322.5 nGy h–1), and plastering (176.8 nGy h–1) were all found to exceed both the world average value and the typical indoor gamma dose rate of 84 nGy h–1. This study highlights significant radiological risks to inhabitants associated with the use of certain materials in building construction. These include clay tiles for roofing, wood, specific granite varieties (reddish/brown granite), and certain types of bricks (fly ash, burnt, and AAS). [Display omitted] •The A.C of 238U (25 to 477 Bq kg–1), 232Th (BDL to 239 Bq kg–1), 40K (285 to 1915 Bq kg–1) in all construction materials.•Radioactivity in materials ranged: Furnishing > Roofing > Building > Flooring > Plastering.•Significant radiological risks were identified to the inhabitants due to higher AEDE, DR and ELCR.