Practical Evaluation of the Biological Shielding Effectiveness of the Gamma Irradiation Facility at Kwabenya, Ghana

Abstract

The ability of re – inforced concrete to attenuate photons in a facility housing a 50 kCi Cobalt – 60 source has been practically assessed using a Chinese made dose rate survey meter model SG – 102. Within the maze entrances, the measured dose rates were 6273.8 ± 745.7nGy/hr (Personnel) and 755.4± 94.4 nGy/hr (Goods). At other locations within the facility, the dose rates determined were as follows: 303.4 ± 23.2 nGy/hr (concrete roof top), 3984.0 ± 78.7 nGy/hr over the small water pool in the deionizer room, whereas values obtained for the control, electrical and the de-ioniser rooms were not significantly above background readings. These measured values are consistent with theoretical estimates.