Natural radioactivity content, radiological hazard and mineralogy evaluation of Pumice stone from Lipari, Sicily, Southern Italy: a case study |
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| Lorenzo Pistorino, Francesco Caridi, Giuseppe Paladini, Antonio Francesco Mottese, Domenico Majolino, Valentina Venuti |
- Abstract:
- In this paper, an assessment of natural radioactivity content, radiological hazard for human beings and mineralogical composition of a pumice rock sample from Lipari Island (Sicily, Southern Italy), historically employed as a building material, is presented as a case study. The specific activity of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K was assessed by means of High-Purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometry. Based on the obtained data, several indices were calculated – namely the absorbed dose rate (D), the Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE), the Activity Concentration Index (Iγ) and the alpha index (Iα) – in order to estimate potential radiological hazards from prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation. As a result, while Iα remains below the recommended threshold, the remaining radiological health hazard indices exceed internationally recognized safety limits, suggesting potential implications for the use of Lipari pumice in construction applications. Furthermore, with the aim of identifying the radioisotope-bearing mineral phases within the pumice matrix, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) measurements were carried out. The results of this study offer a valuable reference for future investigations on background radioactivity levels in natural stones commonly employed as building materials. Notably, given the lack of prior studies on the radiological impact of Lipari pumice, this work represents a novel contribution to the field, offering new insights into its radioactive properties.
- Download:
- IMEKO-Metroarchaeo-2025-034.pdf
- DOI:
- 10.21014/tc26-2025.034
- Event details
- IMEKO TC:
- TC26
- Event name:
- TC26 MetroArcheo Conference 2025
- Title:
Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
- Place:
- Bergamo, ITALY
- Time:
- 15 October 2025 - 17 October 2025