Radiation dose contribution from coal-slags used as structural building material

A significant dose distribution on the population could be derived from coal slags used as isolation material. Extremely high natural activities are measured in the coal slag, derived from the region of the settlement Ajka, Hungary. In some buildings monitored, the elevated γ-doses were nearly 5-10 times higher than the world average ones. The annual average indoor radon concentrations from the slag exceeded 400 Bq/m3 and in some cases up to 1200 Bq/m3. Due to the elevated exposure and the radon concentrations in the dwellings the annual dose was estimated to 8-24 mSv/y more than 5-10 times of the world average one. (author). 10 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs