Re: Radioactivity in granite building materials

["Neil, David M" <NEILDM@inel.gov>]

     As part of a term paper for an environmental radioactivity class, I
     surveyed several buildings of various construction. Local background
     was about 20 microR.  The granite columns at City Hall were the
     highest on contact (~30 microR), but the highest overall building was
     built of a sandstone of mainly granitic origin (~40 microR general
     area in an enclosed corner).

     Brick was next highest of the materials surveyed, with a wide
     variation, which seemed to correlate to color; darker brick gave
     higher readings.  Concrete and its variants were below that, with a
     range down to background.

     The lowest reading masonry material found was travertine, which is a
     redeposited limestone material associated with geothermal activity. No
     marble or virgin limestone was in use as building material for
     comparison.

     I apologize for the general nature of the information, but I do not
     have a copy of the paper ready to hand, and am relying on memory.  I
     hope I have given you some useful information in this.

     Dave Neil
     neildm@inel.gov
     maclir@if.rmci.net


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Radioactivity in granite building materials
Author:  RADSAFE (INELMAIL.RADSAFE) at _EMS
Date:    2/5/98 8:33 PM


Does anyone have information or sources concerning the radioactivity in
granite building materials.  Such as counter-tops, window sills, tiles etc.?