Specific Activity and Radioactive Contour Maps of Natural (⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th) and Anthropogenic (¹³⁷Cs) Radionuclides in Surface Soil Samples from Phang Nga Province, Thailand

Abstract:

The specific activity of the natural (⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th) and anthropogenic (¹³⁷Cs) radionuclides have been studied and evaluated for 97 surface soil samples collected from 7 districts of Phang Nga province in the south of Thailand. High-purity germanium (HPGe) detector and gamma ray spectrometry analysis system were employed to measure and analyze the experimental results. It was found that, the ranges of specific activities of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ¹³⁷Cs in surface soil samples are 251.50 – 15740.34, 15.21 – 791.42, 18.14 – 854.34 and < 0.33 – 16.91 Bq/kg with average values are 2886.77 ± 225.93, 165.71 ± 8.45, 160.36 ± 7.93 and 5.76 ± 2.49 Bq/kg, respectively. The results were also compared with some research data in national and global radioactivity measurement and evaluations. Furthermore, the radiological hazards of Phang Nga province were calculated through the radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), the external hazard index (H_ex), the gamma absorbed dose rate (D) and the annual effective dose rate (AED_out) and also compared with research data in the south of Thailand and the safety limits recommended values by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). Moreover, the radioactive contour maps of the natural (⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th) and anthropogenic (¹³⁷Cs) radionuclides have been also created for the investigated area.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 979)
• Pages: 35-38
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.979.35
• Online since: June 2014
• Authors: Prasong Kessaratikoon*, Ruthairat Boonkrongcheep, Supphawut Benjakul, Suchin Udomsomporn
• Keywords: Anthropogenic Radionuclides, High-Purity Germanium Detector, Natural Radionuclides, Radiological Hazard, Specific Activity, Surface Soil

References

[1] S. Chanyotha, C. Kranrod, S. Tokonami, N. Suwankot, K. Pangza, C. Pornnumpa, Terrestrial gamma radiation in Phuket Island, Thailand, Eng J. 15(4) (2011) 65-76.

DOI: 10.4186/ej.2011.15.4.65

[2] S. Minato, Uranium, thorium and potassium concentrations in Japanese soils, Radioisotopes, 54 (2005) 543-548.

DOI: 10.3769/radioisotopes.54.509

[3] D. Malain, P.H. Regan, D.A. Bradley, M. Matthews, H.A. Al-Sulaiti, T. Santawamaitre, An evaluation of the natural radioactivity in Andaman beach sand samples of Thailand after the 2004 tsunami, Appl. Radiat. Isot. 70 (2012) 1467–1474.

DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2012.04.017

[4] Information on http: /www. dmr. go. th.

[5] S. Sing, A. Rani, R.K. Mahajan, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K analysis in soil samples from some areas of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, India using gamma ray spectrometry, Radiat. Meas. 39 (2005) 431-439.

DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2004.09.003

[6] R. Veiga, N. Sanches, R.M. Anjos, K. Macario, J. Bastos, M. Iguatemy, J.G. Aguiar, A.H.A. Santos, B. Mosquera, C. Carvalho, M.B. Filho, N.K. Umisedo, Measurement natural radioactivity in Brazilian beach sands, Radiat. Meas. 41(2006) 189-196.

DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2005.05.001

[7] R. Boobkrongcheep, Specific Activities and Radioactive Contour Maps of Natural (40K, 226Ra and 232Th) and Anthropogenic (137Cs) Radionuclides in Soil Samples in Phuket Province, Thailand, Thesis for the master degree of Physics, Thaksin University, (2009).

[8] R. Boonkrongcheep, S. Benjakul, P. Kessaratikoon, B. Waeuma, J. Suwalak and K. Mama, Measurement of the specific activities of radionuclides (40K, 226Ra and 232Th) in soil samples from Krabi province in the south of Thailand, The 39th Congress on Science and Technology of Thailand, October 21 - 23, 2013, BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.770.108

[9] M. Mina, Assessment of Natural and Anthropogenic Radioactivities in Soil Samples from Satun Province, Thailand, Thesis for the master degree of Physics, Thaksin University, (2011).

[10] Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP), OAP Annual Academic Report in 1990-2000, Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangkok, Thailand, (1999-2000).

[11] UNSCEAR, Report - United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, Report to the General Assembly with Scientific Annexes, (1988, 1993, 2000).

DOI: 10.18356/a71e0e29-en

[12] A. Well III, M. Moscovitch, J. E. Rodgers, D. Duffey, C. Soares, Investigation of natural variations of Cesium-137 concentrations in residential soils, The Health Physics Society 39th Annual Meeting: Student III – Environment and Radon Session. June 28, (1994).