Analysis of the Radiological, Mineralogical and Long-Term Sustainability of Several Commercial Aswan Granites Used as Building Materials

Hesham M. H. Zakaly, Hamdy A. Awad, Nasser M. Moghazy, Huseyin O. Tekin, Abdalla Rabie, Mona M. Fawzy, Amira M. El-Tohamy, Antoaneta Ene and Shams A. M. Issa
Additional contact information
Hesham M. H. Zakaly: Institute of Physics and Technology, Ural Federal University, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
Hamdy A. Awad: Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Assiut 71524, Egypt
Nasser M. Moghazy: Nuclear Materials Authority, P.O. Box 530, Maadi, Cairo 11381, Egypt
Huseyin O. Tekin: Medical Diagnostic Imaging Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Abdalla Rabie: Mathematics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assuit 71524, Egypt
Mona M. Fawzy: Nuclear Materials Authority, P.O. Box 530, Maadi, Cairo 11381, Egypt
Amira M. El-Tohamy: Nuclear Materials Authority, P.O. Box 530, Maadi, Cairo 11381, Egypt
Antoaneta Ene: Department of Chemistry, Physics and Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Environment, INPOLDE Research Center, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, 47 Domneasca Street, 800008 Galati, Romania
Shams A. M. Issa: Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: The widespread usage of granite in the building sector motivated us to conduct this research and examine the material’s sustainability in terms of the investigated characteristics. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the statistical analysis results for the mineralogical impact on radiological hazards indices, such as the equivalent of radium, absorbed gamma dose rate, annual effective dose, internal and external hazard indices, as well as the gamma-ray index, that were calculated to estimate the environmental risks associated with these granites used as building materials, to protect the public from excessive radioactivity exposure. We focused primarily on statistical significance at a 95% confidence level. We employed a non-parametric test (Kruskal–Wallis Test) rather than a one-way ANOVA, to determine the statistical significance of the samples due to the lack of homogeneity or normality among them. To assess the difference between the samples, we used the Mann–Whitney Test on each pair of samples. Additionally, Pearson correlation coefficients for all the mineralogical results are computed. The presence of K-rich minerals (Kefeldspars, biotite) and accessories such as uranophane, uranothorite, allanite, xenotime, fergusonite, aeschynite, zircon, cassiterite, apatite, and sphene, which are mostly found in granitic rocks, determines the level of natural radioactivity of the investigated granites. Most of the rock samples analyzed have indicators of radioactive dangers that are within the acceptable level range, indicating that they are suitable for use as building materials. On the other hand, some samples have environmental criteria that are higher than international standards, indicating that they are unsuitable for use as construction materials.

Keywords: Kruskal–Wallis Test; Mann–Whitney Test; ANOVA; T-Test; Pearson correlation; Aswan commercial granites; radiological hazards indices; radioactive minerals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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