The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 16 No 3 (2012): 335 – 345

 

 

 

EVALUATION OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN SOIL IN DISTRICT OF KUALA KRAI, KELANTAN

 

(Penilaian Radioaktiviti Semulajadi Tanah Daerah Kuala Krai, Kelantan)

 

Zaini Hamzah¹, Siti Afiqah Abdul Rahman^1*, Ahmad Saat², Mohd. Suhaimi Hamzah³

 

¹Faculty of Applied Sciences,

Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

²International Education Center,

Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40200 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

³Malaysian Nuclear Agency,

43000 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: siti_afiqah@ymail.com

 

 

Abstract

Granitic rocks as in the case of Kelantan, contribute higher natural background activity than usual in environment. Moreover, the mining activities of mineral resources in Kelantan may responsible for the uranium mobility in the surrounding environment. Radiation from the radioactive element may cause health risk to human health through the external and internal exposure. In this study, a radiological monitoring was done on soils in the area where based on geological map of Kelantan containing uranium deposits. Soil was taken at various locations along the Kelantan river to measure activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra and ⁴⁰K . Soil samples were taken from surface up to 45 cm depth with three separate layers. The samples were measured using Gamma Spectrometer. ²²⁶Ra in soil for first layer, second layer and third layer are ranging from 47.1 – 251.1, 48.6 - 426.7 and 43.0 – 430.3 Bq/kg, respectively. ²²⁸Ra is ranging from 54.2-284.4 for first layer, 50.4-457.1 for second layer and 44.5-441.1 Bq/kg for the third layer, respectively. The activity concentration of ⁴⁰K in soil ranging from 491.1-2495.6, 473.4-2615.9 and 488.8-2632.2 Bq/kg for first, second and third layer, respectively. These results were then used to calculate in order to estimate External Hazard Index, Absorbed Dose Rate, Radium Equivalent and Annual Effective Dose at sampling locations. It was found from this study that the exposure risk to radiation for those living and drinking water from the area is very significant.

 

Keywords: gamma spectrometer, Kelantan River, radium, uranium, granite

 

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