Ateneo, NU researchers explore volcanic ash for radiation shielding

Filipino researchers from Ateneo de Manila University and National University-Mall of Asia Campus are exploring the use of volcanic ash from Taal Volcano as a sustainable material for radiation shielding.

This discovery could provide an alternative to expensive and hazardous materials like concrete and lead, crucial for environments such as hospitals and industrial sites.

The study, inspired by the waste disposal challenge from the 2020 Taal Volcano eruption, investigated the physical and chemical properties of Taal volcanic ash (TVA).

Findings indicate that the high iron content in TVA contributes significantly to its effectiveness in attenuating radiation.

Floyd Rey Plando, one of the researchers, explained that iron's greater interaction power, due to its density and abundance of electrons, makes TVA efficient in blocking hazardous X-rays and gamma rays.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Director Teresito Bacolcol noted the potential to transform disaster byproducts into useful materials for safety, possibly extending to ashes from other Philippine volcanoes.