Natural Radioactivity And Random Concentration In Soil And Water From Non-Cultivated Area Of Seberang Perai, Malaysia

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Date
2017-07
Authors
M Alnassar, Nassar Ali
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Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Human well-being is compromised and jeopardized when over exposed to natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, 40K) in soil and water and radon gas (222Rn) in soil. This thesis endeavors to acquire fundamental data of naturally occurring radionuclides concentrations (226Ra, 232Th, 40K), radiological doses and hazard indexes of these radionuclides. Forty samples of cultivated soil and thirty samples of non-cultivated soil, and thirty-two samples of water utilized for irrigation and tap water were acquired from Seberang Perai, Malaysia. The samples were evaluated using High Purity Germanium detector (HPGe); the detector (model no. GEM-M7040P4, Canberra, Inc.) obtained 40% relative efficiency and 1.9 keV energy resolution at 1.3322 MeV of 60Co. Additionally, radon gas (222Rn) concentrations and radon exhalation rates were evaluated for both non-cultivated and cultivated soils samples by employing a Continuous Radon Monitor (CRM) and Nuclear Track Detectors (CR-39 NTDs). Firstly, the average concentrations activity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in cultivated soils were evaluated to be 85.01 ± 42.14, 59.09 ± 22.75 and 384.86 ± 216.28 Bq kg-1, while in non-cultivated soil were found to be 54.21 ± 34.15, 55.19 ± 47.22 and 276.87 ± 203.43 Bq kg-1, respectively. Thus, the average concentrations of radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, 40K) were exhibited higher in cultivated soils than noncultivated soils. However, some non-cultivated soils have been manifested high in Kampung Mengkuang, Kubang Semang in Seberang Perai Tengah corresponding with the range of those reported for other countries across the world.
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Keywords
Random concentration in soil and water , non-cultivated area of Seberang Perai, Malaysia
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