The natural ratio-activity of some building materials used in sathnoor, Thiruvannamalai district, Tamilnadu, India

Using γ spectrometry, the concentration of the naturally occurring radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K has been measured in Soil, Sand, Cement, Clay and Bricks, which are used as building materials in Sathanoor, Tiruvannamalai dist, Tamilnadu, India. The radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the criterion formula (CF), indoor gamma absorbed dose rate (DR), annual effective dose (HR) external radiation hazard index (Hex), internal radiation hazard index (Hin), associated with the natural radionuclides are calculated to assess the radiation hazard of the natural radioactivity in the building materials. From the analysis, it is found that these materials used for the construction of dwellings are safe for the inhabitants.