Activity concentration of natural radioactive nuclides in nonmetallic industrial raw materials in Japan

Natural materials such as rock, ore, and clay, containing natural radioactive nuclides are widely used as industrial raw materials in Japan. If these are high concentrations, the workers who handle the material can be unknowingly exposed to radiation at a high level. In this study, about 80 nonmetallic natural materials frequently used as industrial raw materials in Japan were comprehensively collected from several industrial companies, and the activity concentrations of ²³⁸U series, ²³²Th series and ⁴⁰K in the materials was determined by ICP-MS (inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer) and gamma ray spectrum analyses. Effective doses to workers handling them were estimated by using methods for dose estimation given in the RP 122. We found the activity concentrations to be lower than the critical values defined by regulatory requirements as described in the IAEA Safety Guide. The maximum estimated effective dose to workers handling these materials was 0.16 mSv y⁻¹, which was lower than the reference level (1–20 mSv y⁻¹) for existing situation given in the ICRP Publ.103. - Highlights: • We focused on nonmetallic natural materials as NORM. • We measured the activity concentration of ²³⁸U series, ²³²Th series and ⁴⁰K in them. • We estimated effective doses to workers handling them. • The maximum value of effective doses to workers handling them was estimated to be about 0.16 mSv y⁻¹