Experimental Evaluation Of Gamma-Ray Attenuation Characteristics Of Snail Slime Coated Steel For Sustainable Radiation Shielding Applications

Abstract

This study investigated the gamma radiation attenuation properties of snail mucus coated steel as a sustainable alternative to traditional radiation shielding materials. With growing concerns over the environmental and health risks associated with commonly used materials such as lead and concrete, there is a growing demand for environmentally friendly alternatives. Snail mucus, a natural biopolymer rich in mucin proteins and polysaccharides, was investigated in this study for its radiation shielding potential when combined with steel of varying thicknesses. The experimental analysis was conducted at the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria using a caesium-137 (Cs-137) gamma ray source and a RADOS Universal Radiation Sensing System (RDS-120). Five steel samples of varying thickness were tested both as is (control) and with snail slime surface coatings, which were produced by traditional local methods and applied in measured quantities. The radiant intensities were recorded for each sample and the attenuation coefficients were calculated to assess the shielding effectiveness. The results showed that the snail slime-coated steel samples consistently demonstrated improved radiation attenuation compared to the control samples. For example, the 14.3 mm thick steel sample demonstrated a dose reduction of 9.06 μSv/h after slime application. The study also showed that the half-value thickness of the snail slime-coated steel was approximately 43.9 mm, indicating effective gamma radiation attenuation. These results confirm the potential of snail slime as a sustainable, biodegradable material for radiation shielding, especially in applications where environmental safety and material friendliness are of paramount importance. This research opens up new possibilities for the use of natural biomaterials in shielding technologies and contributes to a broader search for environmentally friendly alternatives in the field of nuclear and radiological protection.

Keywords: Radiation protection, Snail slime, Gamma radiation attenuation, Resistant materials ,Caesium-137 (Cs-137).

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