Database of the radioactivity of norm used as industrial raw materials

Most ores used as industrial raw materials are imported mainly because Japan has poor natural resources. The activity concentrations in these materials should be investigated to evaluate the radiation exposure of workers. In this study, imported industrial raw materials were collected, and the activity concentrations in these resources were measured by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and gamma ray spectrometry. Furthermore, a database of activity concentrations of NORMs was developed by referring to the measured results as well as referring to the literature, and a database on the web was published. The purpose of the database is to relieve anxieties among the general public and to provide extensive data regarding NORM for researchers and regulators. The database provides more than 900 activity concentrations in worldwide NORMs at no fee. (NORM database; http://www.nirs.go.jp/db/anzendb/NORMDB/ENG/index.php).