AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE OF LOCALLY MADE BUILDING BLOCKS (BRICKS) AS RADIATION SHIELDING MATERIAL

The provision of adequate shielding barrier is one method of controlling scattered radiation in X-ray facilities, to ensure that adequate protection is afforded for both the workers and the members of public and adequate shielding barrier is very essential to attenuate the intensity of X-rays to acceptable limits. Many diagnostic centers use lead or heavy concrete as a shielding material which is very expensive and hard to construct. Many investors who intend to establish a radio-diagnostic centers in the rural communities are discourage because of the high cost of building bunkers to house these equipment. Based on this realization this study research was carried out to explore the possibility of low cost shielding material, soil excavated from four area council of Abuja, was molded into block (brick) of the same size (10cm x 10cm) but different thickness (1cm….4cm) and fortified with barium sulfate paint, the samples was exposed to an X-ray at 100kVp (Penetration test) and it seen that some of the samples provide a good attenuation coefficient but the sample from AMAC area council coated with BaSO4 is found to have the least HVL (6.22mm) and the highest liner attenuation coefficient (1.114cm-1). These samples from AMAC provides better attenuation coefficient and it can be used to provide low weight shielding material and less expensive that could serves as alternative radiation shielding material.