Measurements of Natural Radioactivity and Radiological Hazards Assessment in Some Commercial Ceramic Tiles used in Ethiopia.

Ceramic tile is a widely used decorative building material. The natural radionuclideconcentration ( 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K) of ceramic wall and floor tiles typically used in Ethiopia was determined using an HPG detector. The study's goals are to determine the activity concentration of ceramic tiles as well as evaluate their health-related effects. The average activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K were 68.06 ± 2.07 Bq kg -1 , 131.19 ± 3.82 Bq kg -1 , and 802.04 ± 23.41 Bq kg -1 , respectively, which was found to be greater than the global mean. The calculated average value of Raeq was < 370 Bq kg -1 , which is the limiting dose recommended for bulk medium. In addition, the related radiological hazard metrics, such as absorbed dose, annual effective dose equivalent, excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR), internal (H in ) and external (H ex ) hazard indexes, gamma index (I γ ), and alpha index (I α ), were determined. The findings were contrasted with regional, global,and national legal frameworks as well as other similar studies' findings. According to the results, using the examined ceramic tiles in buildings does not significantly increase radiation exposure.