Chemical composition and radionuclide activity concentration data in cements, SCMs, aggregates, ceramics and other...

This database is a useful tool in the construction industry, ensuring that building materials comply not only with technical standards but also with radiation safety regulations. In the past few years, the cement industry has used so-called SCMs to reduce the carbon footprint of cements, without considering that these SCMs (supplementary cementitious materials) are mostly NORMs (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials) that may contain variable levels of radionuclides, primarily ²²⁶Ra (of the ²³⁸U series), ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K. These levels must be controlled in the final construction product, as required by regulations (EU Directive 2013/59). This paper presents data on the activity concentration of natural radionuclides in cements, SCMs, aggregates, and mining and ceramic wastes that are likely to be used as SCMs in the future. Specifically, it presents the chemical composition of these materials alongside with their radionuclide activity concentration data obtained by gamma spectroscopy. These results serve as a database that can be used in different studies to assess the possibility of using these materials in construction materials in compliance with European regulations on radiation protection.