Assessment of Radiological Impact for Individuals Associated with Natural Occurring Radioactive Material in Ceramic Industry

Terrestrial radiation and radon gas are the main sources of natural background radiation. The current study aimed to assess the external exposure to gamma radiation and internal exposure to radon gas emitted from zirconium-containing material. The ceramic raw materials under investigation were collected from Ceramic Company A with selection criteria for sampling ceramic raw materials covering the ceramic industry. The specific activity of primordial natural radionuclides in ceramic components was detected using an HPGe gamma ray spectrometer. The radon gas was monitored using RAD7.The specific activity was varied from specific activity was varied from 5.03? 0.1 Bqkg-1 (EGC7) to 2745?60 Bqkg-1 (Zirconium silicates) for 226Ra, ND (Lime stone) to 234? 12 Bqkg-1 (EGC1) for 232Th and ND (EGC7) to 328?8 Bqkg-1(EGC5) for 40K. Radiation doses and external risks were determined. The annual effective dose resulting from uranium and thorium series and 40K and inhalation of radon gas is within the public dose limit recommended by ICRP.