Gamma-ray activity and dose rate of brick samples from some areas of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan

It is important to measure natural radioactivity due to γ-rays from building materials and consequently to determine the dose rate from these materials. This helps to implement precautionary measures whenever the dose rate is found to be above the recommended limits. A knowledge of gamma radioactivity is required by the building construction association to adopt preventive measures to mitigate or minimize the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. The aim of this work was to measure the gamma activity due to 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in bricks from the Peshawar, Nowshera and Mardan districts of NWFP of Pakistan. The radiological doses to the occupants from the brick floor of a wooden house were calculated. The average γ dose equivalent rate was calculated to be 0.14 mSv per year, which is well below the external γ dose limit of 0.46 mSv per year as given in UNSCEAR [2].