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Toxic and radioactive elements in construction marbles: enhanced detection using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
Sadia Shabbir Bukhari1, Imran Shafi2,3, Syed Asad Shabir Bukhari2,1
1School of Natural Science, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) rapidly analyzes hazardous elements in construction marble. Some marbles contain concerning levels of cadmium and radioactive elements, highlighting the need for safety evaluations.
Area of Science:
- Geochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Marble used in construction can pose health risks due to naturally occurring heavy metals and radioactive materials.
- Enclosed spaces amplify potential exposure to these hazardous elements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) as a rapid, semi-destructive method for analyzing hazardous elements in construction marble.
- To identify specific marbles with potentially harmful concentrations of toxic and radioactive elements.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a high-energy Nd: YAG laser to generate plasma on seven common marble types.
- Collected emission spectra to analyze radioactive and toxic components.
- Computed plasma parameters, electron temperature, and electron density for calibration-free quantitative analysis.
Main Results:
- Detected significant concentrations of cadmium (Cd) in Marble Parlino (9.84%) and Marble White (Peshawar origin, 8.86%).
- Identified considerable samarium (Sm) levels and trace radioactive elements like Uranium (U) and Thorium (Th) in certain marble samples.
- Brown marble from Karachi showed high calcium purity (88%), suggesting suitability for structural applications.
Conclusions:
- LIBS is a reliable, real-time technique for evaluating the safety of construction materials.
- The findings emphasize the importance of analyzing marble for hazardous elements to ensure public health and environmental safety in construction.
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