Radon concentration measurements by SSNTD from construction materials used in Ben-ghazi–Libya

Materials that are used in the construction of buildings may contain radioactive elements that lead to the emission of dangerous radioactive radon gas. Radon is an alpha emitter and therefore a source of radiation occupational dose that affects immensely the general public and their environmental living conditions. A variety of construction materials, whether local or imported, are employed in Benghazi-Libya buildings and 24 samples of these construction materials were collected and their radon gas concentrations were measured by ''Can technique'' that involves the use of CR-39 Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors, SSNTD. Standardisation procedures of CR- 39 were carried out using a specially constructed standard size emanation chamber. Measurements showed that radon concentration varied from 66.7 to 625.8 Bqm-3 which are within the acceptable level set by the ICRP.