Assessment Of Natural Radioactivity Concentration and Associated Radiological Hazards of Commercial Wall Paints and Plaster of Paris Cements Commonly used in Nigeria

Abstract

Plaster of paris (POP) is quick-setting gypsum plaster while certain commercial wall paints contains chemolumnicence materials. These building materials are most likely to emit radiation. Hence, the objectiveof this paper is to assess the natural radioactivity concentration and associated radioloical hazards of commercial wall paints and plaster of paris cements commonly used in Nigeria using standard measurement techniques.  Data obtained reveals high average levels of the activity concentration (AC) of ⁴⁰K, ²³²Th and ²²⁶Ra were observed in emulsion paints (174.73, 56.98 and 58.18 Bq/kg)  and POP (149.59, 64.51 and 63.49 Bq/kg) respectively. For oil paint, the mean result of the test elements ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th were 119.66, 37.86 and 44.66 Bq/kg respectively. From results, the study concluded that all investigated emulsion, oil paints and POP  available in Nigeria have low level radioactivity concentrations which pose no significant radiological risk to users. However, the result from average excess lifetime cancer risk of these surface coatings presented higher value greater than the recommended limit. Consequently, this paper proposes constant monitoring of  POP  and raw materials used for  paint production in Nigeria as well as quality assurance and control.