RADIOLOGICAL QUALIFICATION OF THE COAL BY PRODUCTS USED AS BUILDING MATERIAL IN THE REGION OF THE CITY AJKA

The natural radioactivity of coal-slag and ash from the vicinity of ci ty Ajka (Transdanubian Middle Mountain) significantly exceeds the worl d average one. The use of the slags and ashes as building material giv es a remarkable dose contribution due to elevated radon emanation and external gamma-radiation. Therefore the materials are to be qualified and regulated by indices calculated from their radionuclide concentrat ion and compared them to the proper derived levels. From the gamma-spe ctrometric analysis of samples taken from houses around Ajka, it can b e stated that most of them they must not have been used neither as bui lding material nor for any other purposes in the building industry. De spite the early national prohibition, which was vaguely known in publi c and had inefficient control, the materials with elevated radioactivi ties were used mainly for private buildings. We consider to be importa nt the immediate control and qualified using such materials and an eff icient way of informing the public.