Naturally occurring radioactive materials in construction materials - potential geological sources and radiological risk for the built environment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46421/enarc.v9i1.6911Keywords:
NORM, Naturally Occuring Radioactive Materials, Radioactive minerals, civil construction, build environmentAbstract
Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM), primarily represented by the radionuclides U-238, Th-232, K-40, and their radiogenic progeny, pose significant risks to the built environment if not properly monitored. NORM are present in various geological matrices and may be either concentrated or diluted through industrial technological processes, such as those employed in the construction industry. The incorporation of minerals and rock fragments to achieve desirable properties in final construction products such as masonry buildings, mortar, concrete, and certain geopolymers, is common practice in both traditional and modern construction technologies. A critical yet often overlooked factor is that the presence of NORM in these geological materials may introduce radiological risks to the construction sector. The scarcity of theoretical frameworks addressing this issue further exacerbates the problem. In this context, the present study reviews the potential geological sources of NORM in construction materials and discusses their respective implications for the built environment.
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