Investigation of radiation dose rates, health risks and radionuclide effects of wood and wood-based materials in indoor areas

Abstract

This study addresses the limited comparative data in the literature by systematically evaluating natural radioactivity and radiological hazard indices across 15 different solid wood species commonly used in indoor building applications. Gamma spectrometric analyses performed using a high-sensitivity HPGe detector revealed that the activity concentrations of the isotopes Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 were in the ranges of 1.64–13.26, 0.76–9.46 and 6.08–163.66 Bq kg−1, respectively. In addition, some radiological risk parameters originating from natural radiation were also calculated for the samples examined. All obtained parameters were below the threshold values reported by international organizations, suggesting that wooden building materials are suitable for indoor use