The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, Vol 13 No 1 (2009): 29 – 35

RADIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS IN SOME MALAYSIA’S SAND USED IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

(Kajian Radiologi Bahan Radioaktif  Tabii Beberapa Pasir Malaysia Yang Digunakan Dalam Binaan Bangunan)

Aznan Fazli Ismail*, Muhamad Samudi Yasir, Amran Ab. Majid,

Ismail Bahari, Redzuwan Yahaya & Irman Abd. Rahman

 

Nuclear Science Program, Faculty of Science and Technology,

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

*Corresponding author: aznan_sn@yahoo.com

Abstract

The presence of natural radioactivity in materials used in building constructions results in external and internal radiation exposure to the dwellers. Sand is one of the main components in building construction beside cements, granites and bricks. Thus, this research has been carried out in order to investigate the levels of natural radioactivity and associated radiation hazard in some Malaysia’s sand used in building constructions. Samples were obtained directly from local hardware stores. The activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra (²³⁸U series), ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were determined using gamma-ray spectrometry. Activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra (²³⁸U series), ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were found in the range of 6.45 to 107.90 Bq/kg, 7.78 to 96.67 Bq/kg and 31.05 to 1105.53 Bq/kg respectively. The mean range of representative gamma level indexes were found to be in the range of 0.189 ± 0.027 to 2.366 ± 0.057 whereas the mean range of annual equivalent doses to dwellers were in the range of 0.059 ± 0.005 mSv/year to 0.738 ± 0.018 mSv/year.

 

Keywords: Natural radioactivity; building construction; sand; radiation hazard

 

Abstrak

Kehadiran keradioaktifan tabii dalam bahan binaan bangunan mengakibatkan kepada dedahan sinaran luaran dan dalaman kepada penghuni. Pasir merupakan salah satu komponen penting dalam pembinaan bangunan selain daripada simen, batu kerikil dan batu-bata. Kajian ini dilakukan bertujuan untuk menentukan kepekatan keradioaktifan tabii serta menilai hazard sinaran dalam sampel pasir yang digunakan untuk membina  bangunan di beberapa lokasi di Semenanjung Malaysia. Kepekatan aktiviti ²²⁶Ra (siri ²³⁸U), ²³²Th dan ⁴⁰K ditentukan menggunakan spektrometri sinar gama. Hasil kajian menunjukkan julat purata kepekatan aktiviti masing-masing bagi ²²⁶Ra (siri ²³⁸U), ²³²Th dan ⁴⁰K berada dalam julat 6.45 – 107.90 Bq/kg, 7.78 – 96.67 Bq/kg dan 31.05 – 1105.53 Bq/kg. Purata aras perwakilan sinar gama berada dalam julat 0.189 ± 0.027 hingga 2.366 ± 0.057 manakala julat purata dos setara tahunan adalah 0.059 ± 0.005 mSv/tahun hingga 0.738 ± 0.018 mSv/tahun.

 

Kata kunci: Keradioaktifan tabii; pembinaan bangunan; pasir; hazard sinaran

 

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