Radioactivity of blast-furnace slags from metallurgical enterprises of Ukraine

The radionuclide composition of the fractions of dump and granular blast-furnace slags from Ukrainian enterprises, their compliance with the radiation safety standards of Ukraine and international radiological indicators were determined. The blast-furnace slag contains natural radionuclides: 226Ra, 232Th and 40K. All investigated slags correspond to the safe level of international radiological indicators, belong to the first class of radiation hazard (Ukraine) and can be used in construction without restrictions. A direct correlation between the acidity of slag fractions and the increase in radiological parameters was determined. The hypothesis was proposed about radionuclide sorption on the negatively charged surface of the slag particles.