Study of the Natural Radioactivity of Earth Bricks from the Coastal Region, Côte d'Ivoire

Brigui Olkalé Jean-Claude^{1, 2,} , Gogon Bogbé Douo Louis Huberson^{1, 3}, Konaté Issa¹, El Banni Fadi¹, Georges Alain Monnehan^{1, 3}, Aka Antonin Koua^{1, 3} and KOUASSI Gofri Marie Chantal²

¹Alassane Ouattara University, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire

²Laboratory of Material Sciences, Environment and Solar Energy (LASMES), Felix Houphouet-Boigny University, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

³Nuclear Radiation Protection, Safety and Security Authority (ARSN), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Cite this paper:
Brigui Olkalé Jean-Claude, Gogon Bogbé Douo Louis Huberson, Konaté Issa, El Banni Fadi, Georges Alain Monnehan, Aka Antonin Koua and KOUASSI Gofri Marie Chantal. Study of the Natural Radioactivity of Earth Bricks from the Coastal Region, Côte d'Ivoire. Physics and Materials Chemistry. 2026; 10(1):1-5. doi: 10.12691/pmc-10-1-1

Abstract

Building materials are a vital resource for humans due to their widespread distribution throughout the world and their close proximity to local residents. A study of exposure levels to natural radioactivity in earth bricks was conducted in the coastal region of Côte d'Ivoire to assess the effects on the health of the population. To achieve this objective, it was necessary to collect samples of earth bricks for measurement of primordial radionuclide concentrations by gamma spectrometry (GeHP) in the laboratory. This study is the first at the national level to study the radioactivity of earth bricks. The risks were assessed through radiological risk indices, based on the measured activities of natural radionuclides in the samples. The mean activity concentration ranges of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were 4.11-11.13 Bq.kg^-1, 3.10-10.18 Bq.kg^-1, and 23.67-266.49 Bq.kg^-1, with mean values of 8 Bq.kg^-1, 5 Bq.kg^-1 and 130 Bq.kg^-1, respectively. All mean values of the health risk indices (Ra_eq, D_ex, D_in, AGDE, and AED) were below the limits recommended by ICRP/UNSCEAR. This result indicates moderate exposure for the population, with no significant short-term impact, but should be monitored in the event of prolonged accumulation. The results of this original study provide new information on the radioactivity of building materials in Côte d'Ivoire and worldwide.

Keywords:
Côte d'Ivoire Radionuclides Health Earth brick Gamma spectrometry

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	UNSCEAR (1993). Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, United Nations Publication, New York, USA.
[2]	Baha, A., Hashim, S., Sanusi, M. S. M., & Chik, E. M. F. E. (2025). Radiological impact of natural radioactivity in Malaysian building bricks. Radiation Physics and Chemistry.
[3]	UNSCEAR (2000). Sources and Effets of Ionizing Radiation. Report to Géneral Assembly, with Scientific Annexes. United Nations, New York.
[4]	Koua, A., H. Michel, J. Alabdullah, V. Barci, H.K. Aka, G. Barci-funel and G. Ardisson, 2009 a. First measurements of anthropogenic and natural radionuclides in surface soils (10 cm) of Côte d’Ivoire. Compt. Rendus de l’Academie des Sci., 12 (8): p 850-855.
[5]	Shams, A Issa M, Alaseri SM. (2015). Determination of natural radioactivity and associated radiological risks in bulding materials used in Tabuk Area. Saudi Arabia.Int.J. Adv.Sci.Technol. 82: p 45-62.
[6]	F.Etoo, O.Adupko, E. Darko, G.Emi-Reynolds, A.Awudu, H. Ahiamandjie, J .Tandoh, F.Hasford, S. Adu et O.Gyampo, (2011). “Assessement of natural radioactive materials in bulding materials used along the coast of central region of Ghana” Research Journal of Environnemental and Earth Sciences, vol 3, n°13, p 261-268.
[7]	Righi,S. and Bruzzi, L. (2003), Natural Radioactivity and Radon Exhalation in Building Matérials Used in Italian Dwillings. Journal of Environnemental Radioactivity, 88, p 158-170.
[8]	Monnehan G. Alain. Gogon B. D. L. Huberson. Braffo A. Florentin. Djagouri Koudou. Koua A. Antonin. Kouakou Omer (2019). Assessement of equivalent radium and annual effective dose due to building matérials in Côte d’Ivoire by gamma spectrométry: cases of cement. Journal of applied sciences, 9, p 774-783.
[9]	Brigui JC, Gogon BD. Djagouri K, Monnehan GA, Penabei S. Determination of natural radioactivity and health risks of cement in Abidjan District, Côte d’Ivoire, Radiat Prot Environ 2023; 46: 53-9.
[10]	Darko, E.O. Faanu, A.,Razak,A.,Emi-Reynolds,G., Yeboah,J., Oppon,O.C. , Akaho, E.H.K. (2010).Public exposure hazards associated with natural radioactivity in open pit mining in Ghana. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 138 (1), p 45-51.
[11]	Curie, L.A., (1968). Limits for qualitative detection and quantitative determination. Anal. Chem., 40: 586-593.
[12]	Beretka, I, Mathew P.I, (1985). National radioactivity of Australian building materials waste and products. Health Phys. 48, p 87-95.
[13]	Mahmoud pashazadeh A, Aghanjani M, Nabipour I, Assadi M. (2014). Annual effective dose from environmental gamma in Bushehr city. J.Environ. Health Sci. Eng. 12: 4.
[14]	Tufail, M. Nasim, A. and waqas, M. (2006) Measurement of Terrestial Radiation for Assessment of Gamma Dose from Cultivated and barren Soils of Faisalabad in Pakistan. Journal on Radiation Measurement, 41, p 443-451.
[15]	Amrani D, Tahtat M. (2001). Natural radioactivity in Algerian building materials. Appli. Radiat. Isot. 54: p 687-689.
[16]	Ahmad N., Matiullah J. and Hussein A. J.A., (1998). “Natural radioactivity in Jordanian soil and bulding materials and the associated radiation hazards”, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol.39 N°.1, p 9-22.
[17]	NEA-OECD, (1979). Exposure to radiation from natural Radioactivity in building materials”; Report by NEA of experts of the Nuclear Energy Agency. OECD, Paris, France.
[18]	Malanca A. and Gaidolfi L., (1996). ‘‘Preliminary radiological surey in some towns of the northeastern Brazilian wilderness’’, Nucleus Journal, Vol.33, N°.3, pp.139-144.
[19]	EC (1999). Radiological Protection Principes Concerning the Natural Radioactivity of building Material.
[20]	Aboubakr Mohamed Helal Mohamed. (2018). Natural radionuclides in building materials and assessment of indoor radon concentration in USM. Thesis for the degree of Master of Science. July.
[21]	F. Otoo, E.O. Darko, M. Garavaglia, C. Giovani, S. Pividore, A.B. Andam, J.K. Amoako, O.K. Adukpo, S. Inkoom, S. Adu. (2018). Public exposure to natural radioactivity and radon exhalation rate in construction materials used within Greater Accra Region of Ghana.
[22]	Ngachim, M. Garavaglia, C. Giovani, M.G. Kwato Njock, A. Nourreddine. (2007). Assessment of natural radioactivity and associated radiation hazards in some Cameroonian bulding materials, Radiat.Meas. 42, p 61-67.