NDLI: The potential health hazards of chronic exposure to low-dose natural radioactivity in Terengganu, Malaysia

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Garba, N. N. Ramli, A. T. Saleh, M. A. Sanusi, M. S. Gabdo, H. T. Aliyu, A. S.
Copyright Year	2016
Abstract	Measurement of terrestrial gamma radiation dose (TGRD) rate and activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides in environmental media such as soil and air play an important role in the setting national average permissible doses to members of public. Malaysia is planning to add nuclear energy to its national electricity grid; hence the knowledge of the levels of exposure to natural background radioactivity is important for policies and law making with regards to radiological protection of both human and the environment. The aim of this work was to measure the variation of background radiation with respect to geological formations of Terengganu (Malaysia) and assess the potential health hazards that are associated with the chronic exposure to natural radiation in the area. Ludlum 19 micro survey meters with NaI[Tl] detectors and HPGe gamma ray spectrometer were used for in situ TGRD and laboratory analysis, respectively. The measured TGRD rates ranged from 35 to 340 nGy h$^{−1}$ with mean value of 150 nGy h$^{−1}$ and the annual effective dose to population was 0.92 mSv year$^{−1}$. The mean (range) activity concentrations of $^{226}$Ra, $^{232}$Th, and $^{40}$K in the soil samples were 79 ± 3 (20 ± 1–151 ± 5) Bq kg$^{−1}$; 84 ± 3 (8 ± 1–182 ± 6) Bq kg$^{−1}$; and 545 ± 55 (47 ± 5–1056 ± 107) Bq kg$^{−1}$, respectively. Upon comparing these values with the world averages for specific activities of $^{226}$Ra, $^{232}$Th and $^{40}$K (i.e. 33, 36 and 474 Bq kg$^{−1}$ for $^{226}$Ra, $^{232}$Th and $^{40}$K respectively), It is revealed that the mean activity concentrations of $^{226}$Ra and $^{232}$Th in the soil of Terengganu are higher than the world averages by a factor of two. The mean activity concentration of $^{40}$K in the soil of Terengganu is ~15 % higher than the world average. Acid intrusive geological formation (due to the granite composition from igneous rocks), which is the most dominant in the state was found to contained higher mean TGRD values as well as $^{226}$Ra and $^{232}$Th concentration this was consistent with some previous studies.
Starting Page	1
Ending Page	12
Page Count	12
File Format	PDF
ISSN	18666280
Journal	Environmental Earth Sciences
Volume Number	75
Issue Number	5
e-ISSN	18666299
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publisher Date	2016-02-24
Publisher Place	Berlin, Heidelberg
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Natural radiation Annual effective dose Health hazard Cancer risk $^{232}$Th $^{226}$Ra $^{40}$K Geology Hydrology/Water Resources Geochemistry Environmental Science and Engineering Terrestrial Pollution Biogeosciences
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Global and Planetary Change Earth-Surface Processes Soil Science Environmental Chemistry Pollution Geology Water Science and Technology

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

Activity concentration of terrestrial and anthropogenic radionuclides ($^{226}$Ra, $^{222}$Rn, $^{232}$Th, $^{40}$K, and $^{137}$Cs) in soil samples

Activities of $^{232}$Th, $^{226}$Ra, $^{40}$K, and $^{137}$Cs in surface soil and external dose assessment at two zones of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Radiological hazard associated with natural radionuclide concentrations in the northern part of Pahang state Malaysia

Natural and fallout radioactivity levels and radiation hazard evaluation in soil samples

Radiological hazards for marble, granite and ceramic tiles used in buildings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Measurement of natural radioactivity and radiation hazards assessment in rock samples of Ramanagara and Tumkur districts, Karnataka, India

Analysis of $^{226}$Ra, $^{232}$Th and $^{40}$K in soil samples for the assessment of the average effective dose

An assessment of natural radioactivity levels and radiation hazards in the soil of Coonoor, South India

Natural Radioactivity and Radon Exhalation in Phosphate Fertilizers

The potential health hazards of chronic exposure to low-dose natural radioactivity in Terengganu, Malaysia

Similar Documents

Activity concentration of terrestrial and anthropogenic radionuclides ($^{226}$Ra, $^{222}$Rn, $^{232}$Th, $^{40}$K, and $^{137}$Cs) in soil samples

Activities of $^{232}$Th, $^{226}$Ra, $^{40}$K, and $^{137}$Cs in surface soil and external dose assessment at two zones of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Radiological hazard associated with natural radionuclide concentrations in the northern part of Pahang state Malaysia

Natural and fallout radioactivity levels and radiation hazard evaluation in soil samples

Radiological hazards for marble, granite and ceramic tiles used in buildings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Measurement of natural radioactivity and radiation hazards assessment in rock samples of Ramanagara and Tumkur districts, Karnataka, India

Analysis of $^{226}$Ra, $^{232}$Th and $^{40}$K in soil samples for the assessment of the average effective dose

An assessment of natural radioactivity levels and radiation hazards in the soil of Coonoor, South India

Natural Radioactivity and Radon Exhalation in Phosphate Fertilizers

The potential health hazards of chronic exposure to low-dose natural radioactivity in Terengganu, Malaysia