Sains Malaysiana 49(6)(2020): 1439-1450

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4906-22

Determination of the Radiological Risk from the Natural Radioactivity in Irrigation at Selected Areas of Peninsular Malaysia

(Penentuan Risiko Radiologi daripada Keradioaktifan Semula Jadi dalam Pengairan di Kawasan Terpilih di Semenanjung Malaysia)

KHOIRUL SOLEHAH ABDUL RAHIM¹, ZALITA ZAINUDDIN¹*, MOHD IDZAT IDRIS¹, WAHMISARI PRIHARTI² & MURTADHA SH. ASWOOD³

¹Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²School of Electrical Engineering, Telkom University, 40527 Bandung, Indonesia

³Department of Physics, College of Education, University of Al-Qadisiya, Iraq

Diserahkan: 17 Disember 2019/Diterima: 24 Februari 2020

ABSTRACT

This study involves a comprehensive analysis of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K concentration from irrigation water samples. Water samples were obtained, and the physical parameters were examined. Subsequently, the corresponding radiological risks to human health were estimated. The concentration levels of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in water samples amounted to 1.51 ± 0.30, 0.17 ± 0.09, and 7.67 ± 3.07 Bq L^-1, respectively, which were within the concentration levels reported in the literature from Malaysia and other countries worldwide. Based on the food intake rate by MoH and UNSCEAR, the annual ingestion effective dose (ID) and the cancer risks corresponding to radionuclide intake in irrigation were below the recommended maximum values. Meanwhile, the average hazard indices and annual outdoor effective dose (ED) amounted to 0.01 and 1.39 mSv year^-1, respectively. It was inferred from the findings of this study that the water used as the sample does not have any significant radiological impacts to human body and is safe to be used as irrigation in the related area.

Keywords: Gamma spectrometry; hazard indices; health risk; irrigation water; radionuclide concentration

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini melibatkan analisis komprehensif terhadap kepekatan radionuklid ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th dan ⁴⁰K daripada sampel air pengairan. Sampel air telah diperoleh, dan parameter fizikal telah dinilai. Seterusnya, risiko radiologi berikutan dedahan sinaran terhadap kesihatan manusia telah dianggar. Aras kepekatan ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th dan ⁴⁰K dalam sampel air adalah masing-masing 1.51 ± 0.30, 0.17 ± 0.09 dan 7.67 ± 3.07 Bq L^-1, masih berada dalam lingkungan aras kepekatan yang dilaporkan di dalam kepustakaan sama ada dari Malaysia atau negara-negara lain di seluruh dunia. Berdasarkan kepada kadar pengambilan makanan oleh MoH dan UNSCEAR, dos pemakanan berkesan tahunan (ID) dan risiko kanser berikutan pengambilan radionuklid dalam air siraman masih berada di bawah nilai maksimum yang disarankan. Sementara itu, purata indeks bahaya luaran dan dos luaran berkesan tahunan (ED) adalah berjumlah 0.01 dan 1.39 mSv tahun^-1 masing-masing. Ia disimpulkan daripada hasil kajian ini bahawa air daripada sampel kajian ini tidak mempunyai kesan radiologi yang ketara kepada tubuh badan manusia, dan selamat untuk digunakan sebagai pengairan di kawasan yang berkaitan. 

Kata kunci: Air pengairan; indeks bahaya; kepekatan radionuklid; risiko kesihatan; spektrometri gama

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: zazai@ukm.edu.my