Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, Vol 27 No 1 (2023): 118 - 128

 

PRIMORDIAL RADIONUCLIDES CONTENT AND RADIATION RISK ASSESSMENT OF SURFACE SOILS SURROUNDING TEMENGGOR RESERVED FOREST, GERIK, PERAK

 

(Kandungan Radionuklid Primordial dan Penilaian Risiko Radiasi Tanah Permukaan di Sekitar Hutan Rizab Temenggor, Gerik, Perak)

 

Nursyairah Arshad1,2, Misbah Hassan1,2, Nor Aizam Adnan3 and Rozita Osman1*

 

1Faculty of Applied Sciences,

Universiti Teknologi MARA,  40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

2Institute of Sciences,

Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

3Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying,

Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: rozit471@uitm.edu.my

 

 

Received: 17 September 2022; Accepted: 23 November 2022; Published:  22 February 2023

 

 

Abstract

Natural radioisotopes' occurrence on the earth’s surface and the crust might raise concerns for the environment in terms of their radiation risk. Their existence in the environment can be measured through the evaluation of soil from the targeted areas. This study aimed to assess the radionuclides content including thorium-232, uranium-238, and potassium-40 in surface soil samples from Temenggor Reserved Forest areas. The radiation assessment of the environment was done by calculating the Radium Equivalent (Raeq), Absorbed Dose Rate (AD), Outdoor Annual Effective Dose (AED), and External Hazard Index (Hex). The surface soil samples were collected from twelve locations surrounding Temenggor Reserved Forest using a hand auger. The radionuclides content was measured using the Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) Spectrometer and was converted to activity concentration for the risk assessment calculation. The activity concentration of 232Th, 238U and 40K was found to be in the range of 28.92-179.92, 32.56-110.10 and 214.45-1083.38 Bq/kg, respectively. The values of Raeq, AD, AED and Hex that were obtained were in the range of 103.90-312.17 Bq/kg, 49.99-149.65 (nGy/h), 0.06-0.18 mSv/y and 0.29-0.86, respectively. The results showed that the activity concentration and radiation risk were higher than the limit set by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR 2000) at certain study locations. However, the AED and Hex were very low compared to the UNSCEAR 2000 limit. The high content of radionuclides might be caused by the types of soils and rocks as well as the anthropogenic sources from past activity in the targeted area.

 

Keywords: energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, Perak, radionuclides, risk assessment, surface soil

 

 

Abstrak

Kewujudan radionuklid semulajadi di permukaan bumi dan di dalam kerak bumi mungkin menimbulkan kebimbangan kepada alam sekitar dari segi risiko radiasi mereka. Kewujudan mereka di dalam alam sekitar boleh diukur melalui penilaian tanah dari kawasan yang di kenalpasti. Kajian ini menyasarkan untuk menilai kandungan radionuklid termasuk torium-232, uranium-238 dan potasium-40 didalam sampel tanah permukaan di kawasan Hutan Rizab Temenggor. Penilaian risiko radiasi di kawasan sekitar telah dijalankan menggunakan penggiraan Radium Equivalent (Raeq), Absorbed Dose Rate (AD), Outdoor Annual Effective Dose (AED) and External Hazard Index (Hex). Sampel-sampel tanah permukaan telah dikumpulkan dari dua belas (12) lokasi disekitar kawasan Hutan Rizab Temenggor dengan menggunakan gerimit tangan. Kandungan radinuklid telah diukur dengan menggunakan Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) Spektrometer dan ditukar kepada aktiviti kepekatan untuk penggiraan risiko radiasi mereka. Aktiviti kepekatan tiga radionuklid 232Th, 238U dan 40K telah direkodkan masing-masing dalam julat 28.92-179.92, 32.56-110.10 dan 214.45-1083.38 Bq/kg. Keputusan aktiviti kepekatan dan risiko radiasi yang direkodkan adalah melebihi had yang telah ditetapkan oleh United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR 2000) di beberapa lokasi kajian. Walaubagaimanapun, keputusan AED dan Hex adalah sangat rendah berbanding had yang ditetapkan oleh UNSCEAR 2000. Kandungan radionuklid yang tinggi mungkin disebabkan oleh jenis tanah dan batu serta sumber antropogenik daripada aktiviti terdahulu di kawasan kajian. 

    

Kata Kunci: energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence; perak; radionuklid, penilaian risiko, tanah permukaan

 

References

1.         Esan, D. T., Ajiboye, Y., Obed, R. I., Ojo, J., Adeola, M. and Sridhar, M. K. (2022). Measurement of natural radioactivity and assessment of radiological hazard indices of soil over the lithologic units in Ile-Ife area, South-West Nigeria. Environmental Health Insights, 16: 1-13.

2.         Al-Khawlany, A., Khan, A. and Pathan, J. (2018). Review on studies in natural background radiation, Radiation Protection Environment, 41: 215.

3.         United Nations Scientific Committee on The Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) (2000). Sources and biological effects of ionizing radiation, United Nations, New York

4.         Araromi, O. I., Ojo, A. O., Olaluwoye, M. O. and Odefemi, O. B. (2016). The concentration of natural radionuclides in soil samples from the practical year agricultural farmland, University of Ibadan, Journal of Applied Physics, 8(4): 60-68.

5.         Ramli A. T. (1997). Environmental terrestrial gamma radiation dose and its relationship with soil type and radiation isotope and underlying geological formation in Pontian District, Malaysia, Journal of Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 48 : 407-412.

6.         Florou, H. and Kritidis, P. (1992). Gamma radiation measurements and dose rate in the coastal areas of Island, Aegean Sea, Greece. Journal of Radiation protection Dosimetry, 45: 227-279.

7.         Ahmad, A. Y., Al-Ghouti, M. A., and Al-Sadig, I. (2019). Vertical distribution and radiological risk assessment of 137Cs and natural radionuclides in soil samples. Scientific Report, (9): 12196.

8.         Hassan, N. M., Kim, Y. J., and Jang, J. (2018). Comparative study of precise measurements of natural radionuclides and radiation dose using in-situ and laboratory γ-ray spectroscopy techniques. Scientific Report, (8): 14115.

9.         Kamal, S. H. S., Suratman, M. N., Khamis, S., Hassan, A. N. N. and Mohammad, M. S. (2021). Host-parasitic relationships between Tetrastigma rafflesiae and Rafflesia azlanii and Rafflesia cantleyi in Belum-Temenggor Forest Complex, Perak, Malaysia, Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, 44(4): 755-771.

10.      Jabatan Mineral dan Geosains Malaysia (JMG), Malaysia Government Portal.

11.      Sanusi, M. S. M., Ramli, A. T., Hassan, W. M. S. W., Lee, M. H., Izham, A., Said, M. N., Wagiran, H., and Heryanshah, A. (2017). Assessment of impact of urbanisation on background radiation exposure and human health risk estimation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Environment International, 104: 91-101.

12.      Arshad, N. (2017). The assessment of selected atmospheric pollutant elements using moss (Leucobryum Aduncum) as Bio-Monitor, Thesis of Master Degree, Universiti Teknologi MARA.

13.      Nuclear Solution Division, (2000). Specific activities. Access from http://www.iem-inc.com/information/tools/specific-activities. [Access online on 3 April 2022]

14.      Khan, I. U., Qin, Z., Xie, T., Bin, Z., Li, H., Sun, W. and Lewis, E. (2020). Evaluation of health hazards from radionuclides in soil and rocks of North Waziristan, Pakistan, International Journal of Radiation Research, 18(2): 243-253.

15.      Alzubaidi, G., Hamid, F. B. and Abdul Rahman, I. (2016). Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and radiation hazards in agricultural and virgin soil in the state of Kedah, North of Malaysia, Scientific World Journal, 2016: 6178103.

16.      Arshad, N., Hamzah, Z. and Saat, A. (2015). Determination of heavy metals and radionuclides in Ligumia recta (Black Sandshell) from Kampung Gajah, Perak. Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, 19(5): 911-919.

17.      Abdullah, A., Hamzah, Z., Saat, A., Wood, A. K. and Alias, M. (2015). accumulation of radionuclides in selected marine biota from Manjung coastal area, AIP Conference Proceedings, 1659: 050009.

18.      Ramadhan, H. H. and Kim, J. (2021). Radiological risk assessment of vehicle transport accidents associated with consumer products containing naturally occurring radioactive materials. Applied Sciences, 11(18):8719.

19.      Obayes, K. H., Mahdi, K. H., Nassif, R. M. and Mansour, H. L. (2019). Determination of radionuclides and heavy elements in the rising dust in the small side of Diwaniyah city due to the movement of wheels and cars. Journal of Physics,:Conference Series, 1234: 012046.

20.      Brenda, H. (2021). Environmental pathways of radionuclides to animal products in different farming and harvesting systems, nuclear and radiological emergencies in animal production systems, preparedness, response and recovery. Springer, Germany: pp. 53.

21.      Victar, S. A. (2021). Measurement of radioactivity, nuclear and radiological emergencies in animal production systems, preparedness, response and recovery, Springer, Germany: pp. 29.

22.      Sanusi, M. S. M., Ramli, A. T., Wagiran, H., Lee, M. H., Heryanshah, A. and Said, M. N. (2016). Investigation of geological and soil influence on natural gamma radiation exposure and assessment of radiation hazards in Western Region, Peninsular Malaysia. Environment Earth Science, 75: 485.

23.      Mei-Wo, Y. and Hasan, A. M. A. (2019). Natural radioactivity in surface soil of malaysian nuclear agency bangi complex and its radiation risk. Proceedings of the Research and Development Seminar Nuklear Malaysia 2018 Nuclear Technology Towards Sustainable Development, Malaysia: Malaysian Nuclear Agency.

24.      Abdul Adziz, M. I. and Khoo, K. S. (2018). An assessment of absorbed dose and radiation hazard index from soil around repository facility at Bukit Kledang, Perak, Malaysia, IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 298: 012001.

25.      Almayahi, B. A., Tajuddin, A. A. and Jaafar, M. S. (2012) Radiation hazard indices of soil and water samples in Northern Malaysian Peninsula, Applied Radiation Isotope, 70(11): 2652-2660.

26.      Joel, E. S., Maxwell, O., Adewoyin, O. O., Olawole, O. C., Arijaje, T. E., Embong, Z. and Saeed, M. A. (2019) Investigation of natural environmental radioactivity concentration in soil of coastaline area of Ado-odo/ota Nigeria and its radiological implications, Scientific Report, 9: 4219.

27.      Garba, N., Ramli, A., Saleh, M. and Gabdo, H. (2018). Natural radioactivity and associated radiation hazards in soil of Kelantan, Malaysia, Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 25(10): 1707-1717.