Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciencesw Vol 18 No 2 (2014): 284 – 298

 

 

 

ASSESSMENT OF NATURALLY OCCURING RADIONUCLIDE IN THE SEDIMENT CORE IN SOUTHERN OF KUALA SELANGOR COASTAL AREA

 

(Kajian Radionuklida Tabii di dalam Teras Sedimen di Kawasan Pesisir Pantai Selatan Kuala Selangor)

 

Zaini Hamzah, Umi Kalsum Abdul Karim*, Ahmad Saat, Sabarina MD Yunus

 

Faculty of Applied Sciences,

Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: ikacome@yahoo.com

 

 

Abstract

This study is to determine naturally occurring radionuclide activity concentrations of 226Ra, 228Ra and 40K in sediment core using gamma-ray spectrometry with a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. Sediment core was taken from 14 locations in two areas in Kuala Selangor which are Pantai Remis and Pantai Jeram. Samples were taken during Northeast Monsoon in January and March 2011.  40K was measured via its 1460 keV energy peak, 226Ra (of the 238U) and 228Ra (of the 232Th) through their γ-ray lines 609.3 keV (214Bi) and 911.1 keV (228Ac).  The mean activity concentration of 226Ra in Pantai Remis is 37.49±1.38 Bq/kg and ranged between 19.44-55.74 Bq/kg. For 228Ra the activity concentration ranged between 40.75-82.23 Bq/kg with a mean value of 58.64±2.60 Bq/kg; and that of 40K from 206.53-398.30Bq/kg with a mean of 316.95 ± 10.88 Bq/kg. Meanwhile the mean activity concentration of 226Ra in Pantai Jeram is 32.35±1.27 Bq/kg and ranged between 21.28-38.67 Bq/kg. For 228Ra the activity concentration ranged between 34.25-106.72 Bq/kg with a mean value of 57.96±2.55Bq/kg; and that of 40K from 246.12-394.53 Bq/kg with a mean of 325.14±10.87 Bq/kg. Different vertical profile of 226Ra, 228Ra and 40K activity concentration observed between sampling locations might due to the sediment mineralogy, source of radioactivity, geochemistry of the area and oceanic process. Plus, smaller 228Ra/226Ra activity ratio range suggests that interaction on these two series with the surrounding were very similar. Value of study radionuclides in present study were almost comparable with study done in other part in Malaysia. Moreover, world mean value of 226Ra, 228Ra and 40K provided by UNSCEAR (1993) fall within the value range of radionuclides in present study.

 

Keywords: Natural radionuclides, activity concentration, sediment core, coastal area, gamma spectrometer

 

Abstrak

Kajian ini adalah untuk menentukan aras radionuklid tabii (226Ra, 228Ra dan 40K) di dalam teras sedimen menggunakan spektrometer gama yang dilengkapkan dengan pengesan germanium lampau tulen (HPGe). Teras sedimen telah di ambil daripada 14 lokasi di dua kawasan di Kuala Selangor iaitu Pantai Remis dan Pantai Jeram. Sampel telah di ambil semasa monsun timur laut pada Januari dan Mac 2011. Radionuklid 40K diukur melalui puncak tenaga 1460 keV. Untuk 226Ra (daripada 238U) dan 228Ra (daripada 232Th) garisan sinar gama 609.3 keV (214Bi) dan 911.1 keV (228Ac) digunakan. Purata kepekatan aktiviti 226Ra di Pantai Remis ialah  37.49±1.38 Bq/kg dan julat di antara 19.44-55.74 Bq/kg. Untuk 228Ra, kepekatan aktiviti julat diantara 40.75-82.23Bq/kg dengan purata 58.64±2.60 Bq/kg; dan bagi 40K julat di antara 206.53-398.30Bq/kg dengan purata 316.95 ± 10.88 Bq/kg. Sementara itu purata kepekatan aktiviti  226Ra di Pantai Jeram ialah is 32.35±1.27 Bq/kg dan julat diantara 21.28-38.67 Bq/kg. Untuk  228Ra kepekatan aktiviti berjulat diantara 34.25-106.72 Bq/kg dengan purata bernilai 57.96±2.55Bq/kg; dan bagi 40K julat diantara 246.12-394.53 Bq/kg dengan purata 325.14±10.87 Bq/kg. Terdapat perbezaan profil mencangcang bagi kepekatan aktiviti untuk 226Ra, 228Ra and 40K, yang mugkin disebabkan oleh mineralogi sedimen, punca radioaktif, geokimia kawasan tersebut serta proses lautan. Tambahan pula, nilai lingkungan kecil bagi nisbah activiti untuk 228Ra/226Ra mengcadangkan bahawa interaksi di antara dua siri ini dengan persekitaran adalah sama. Nilai radionuklida yang dikaji di dalam kajian ini adalah sebanding dengan kajian yang dijalankan  di kawasan lain di Malaysia. Nilai purata dunia bagi 226Ra, 228Ra and 40K yang dinyatakan oleh UNSCEAR (1993) jatuh di dalam lingkungan nilai radionuklida di dalam kawasan kajian ini.

 

Kata kunci: Radionuklid tabii, kepekatan aktiviti, teras sedimen, kawasan pesisir pantai, spektrometer gama

 

References

1.       Theng, T.L. & Mohamed, C. A. R. (2005). Activities of 210Po and 210Pb in the water column at Kuala Selangor, Malaysia. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 80: 273-286.

2.       IAEA-TECDOC-1429. January (2005). Radionuclide levels in oceans and seas. Worldwide marine radioactivity studies (WOMARS). Final report of a coordinated research project .

3.       IAEA. 19–22 March (2007). Naturally occurring radioactive material NORM V. In: Proceedings of an International Symposium, Seville, Spain.

4.       John R. C., Ranjeet, K. R. & Sokhi, S. (2003). Radioactive Releases in the Environment: Impact and Assessment. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (1), England

5.       Alatise, O.O., Babalola, I. A. & Olowofela, J. A. (2008). Distribution of some natural gamma-emitting radionuclides in the soils of the coastal areas of Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 99: 1746-1749.

6.       Saat, A., Hamzah, Z., Yusop. M. F. & Zainal, M. A. (2010). Experimental Determination of the HPGe Spectrometer Efficiency Calibration Curves for Various Sample Geometry for Gamma Energy from50 keV to 2000 keV. Progress of Physic Research in Malaysia, American Institute of Physic, 5: 39 – 42.

7.       Hamzah, Z., Saat, A., Mashuri, N. H. & Redzuan, S. D. (2008).  Surface Radiation Dose and Radionuclide Measurement in Ex-Tin Mining Area, Kg Gajah Perak. The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Science, 12: 419-431.

8.       Brady, N.C. (1984). The Nature and Properties of Soils, 9. Macmillan Publishing Co., New York, 750.

9.       Avnimelec. Y, Ritvo. G, Meijer. L. E, & Kochba. M. (2001).  Water content, organic carbon and dry bulk density in flooded sediments. Aquacultural Engineering 25: 25–33.

10.    Opreanu. G. (2003). Porosity, density and other physical properties of deep sea sediment from the black sea. National Institute of Marine Geology and Geo-ecology Modern and Ancient Fluvial, Deltaic and Marine Environments and Processes Proceedings of Euro-EcoGeoCentre-Romania: GEO-ECO-MARINA 9-10/2003-2004.

11.    Molinari & Snodgrass. (1990). The chemistry and radiochemistry of radium and the other elements of the uranium and thorium and natural decay series. The environmental Behaviour of Radium, 1. Technical Report Series No.310 IAEA.

12.    Choy, C. C., Zaharuddin. A. & Mohamed, C. A. R. (2007). Vertical profile of 210Pb in the sediment core in               Kuala Selangor Malaysia. The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Science, 11: 274-279.  

13.    Jetter, H. H. (2000). Determining the Ages of Recent Sediments Using Measurements of Trace Radioactivity. Terra et Aqua, 78 : 21 – 28.

14.    Lauria, D. C., Almeida, R. M. R., Godoy, J. M. O. & Sracek, O. (2002). On the high radium concentrations and low pH values in ground waters of a Brazilian coastal region. Radioactivity in the Environment (Proc. Conf. Monaco).

15.    Godoy, J.M., Lauria, D.C., Godoy, M.L.D.P. & Cunha, R.P. (1994). Development of a sequential method for the determination of 238U, 234U, 232Th, 230Th, 228Th, 228Ra, 226Ra, and 210Pb in environmental samples. J. Radioanalyt. Nucl. Chem: Articles, 182 (1)165–169.

16.    Sanders, L. M., Sanders, C. J., Luiz-Silva, W., Machado, W. E., Silva-Filho, V.  & Patchineelam. S. R. (2010). Anthropogenic source assessment of 226Ra and 210Pb in a sediment core from the Cubatao River estuary (SE Brazil), Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 287:729 – 732.

17.    Chung, Y. C & Chen, C. T. A. (2007). Natural and Anthropogenics Radionuclides. Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), Eolss Publishers, Oxford, UK, ISBN: 978-1-905839-62-9 e-Book, 1 : 359-388.

18.    Tavakoly Sany, S. B., Salleh, A., Sulaiman, A. B., Sasekumar, A., Tehrani, G. M. & Rezayi, M. (2012). Distribution, characteristic and ecological risk of heavy metals in surface sediments of West Port, Malaysia. Environment Protection Engineering, 38(4): 139 – 155.

19.    Saat, A., Hamzah, Z., Abu Bakar, Z., Ahmad, Z. &Wood, A. B. (14 – 15 March 2009). Applicability of Pb-210 method for ages and sedimentation study of a recent freshwater ex-minig lake. Conferences on Scientific & Social Research (CSSR), paper number: 5281121.

20.    Hamzah, Z., Abdul Karim, U. K. & Saat, A. (2012). Measurement of natural radioactivity level in surface sediment in southern Kuala Selangor coastal area. Malaysian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, 8:266 – 270.

21.    Yii, M.W., Wan Mahmood, Z., , Ahmad, Z, Md. Jaffary, N. A. I. & Ishak, K. (2011). NORM activity concentration in sediment cores from the Peninsular Malaysia East Coast Exclusive Economic Zone. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 289: 653-661.

22.    Omar M., Ibrahim M.Y., Hassan A., Mahmood C.S & Sharifuddin M. A. (1991). Aras               Sinaran dan Keradioaktifan Alam Sekitar di Malaysia, Seminar Kebangsaan IRPA sektor strategik.

23.    Turekian, K. K.; Wedepohl, K. H. (1961). Distribution of the elements in some major units of the earth’s crust. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 72 : 175 – 192.                                                                 

24.    Ismail, A. K., Ahmad, Z., Mohamed, N. & Yii, M. W. (23–27 April 2007). Proceeding International Conference on Environmental Radioactivity, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 255.  

25.    Ahmad, Z., Ishak, A. K. & Yii M. W. (2007). Marine Environment Related Activities in Malaysia Using Nuclear Technologies. Country Report Malaysia. Industrial Technology Division, Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT).

26.    Yii, M. W., Ahmad, Z. & Ishak, A. K. (2009). Distribution of natural occurring radionuclides activity concentration in East Malaysia marine sediment. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 67: 630-635.

27.    Li, D. M., Xu, M. Q., Liu, G. S. & Li, C. (2007). Distribution of radioisotopes in sediment cores from nearshore    off  Xinghua Baymouth, Fujian, China. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 273: 151-155.

28.    UNSCEAR (1993). Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. Report  of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation to the  General Assembly, with Scientific Annexes, United Nations, New York, USA.

 

 

Previous                    Content                    Next