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Description
Directive 2013/59/EURATOM, incorporated into Spanish legislation through Real Decreto 1029/2022, establishes a maximum annual indoor external exposure of 1 mSv from gamma radiation emitted by construction materials. This research examines the radiological properties of widely used building materials in Spain, such as concrete blocks, clay bricks, ceramic tiles, marble, and newer products, including synthetic stones and porcelain-based materials.
Different types of building materials were analysed by gamma spectrometry using an accredited procedure at the Laboratorio de Radiactividad Ambiental of the Universitat Politècnica de València (Spain), in accordance with ISO 17025. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K and the European activity concentration index (I) were determined. For materials with I values greater than 1, the corresponding annual external dose was estimated following the standard methodology described in CEN/TR 17113:2017, taking into account factors such as material density, thickness, and application.
The findings reveal considerable variation in radionuclide concentrations, even among samples of the same material category. Marble, gypsum-based products, and terrazzo generally showed low levels of radioactivity. Clay bricks tended to have higher concentrations than concrete, largely because of their raw material composition. Certain covering materials, such as ceramic tiles or new synthetic products containing zircon silicates, show higher activities.
Overall, most of the analysed materials comply with established radiological safety criteria. Although some samples, certain granites and ceramic products, exceeded the reference index value (I > 1), dose calculations demonstrate that they still remain below the regulatory exposure threshold of 1 mSv per year, meaning they can be considered acceptable from a radiation protection perspective.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Consejo-Seguridad-Nuclear for funding the project ‘Characterisation, exhalation and remediation of radon in building materials’ (SUB-33/2021), and the Universitat Politècnica de Valencia for funding the project “Assessment of the radiological impact of new building materials used in residential interiors” (PAID-06-24).