Dose rate of environmental gamma radiation in some locations of West Kalimantan as a site candidate of nuclear power plant

Abstract

Research and analysis of environmental gamma-radiation dose rates have been carried out in several locations in West Kalimantan as potential Nuclear Power Point (NPP) sites. Aim of this study is as a baseline data for environmental gamma radiation dose rates in Indonesia, especially in the Bengkayang area from points with a radius of 0 to 10 km, and in locations around the city of Pontianak (both on land and rivers). The zero-point km is at the point of Pantai Gosong, Bengkayang District. This study was conducted an environmental evaluation based on the Dosage Limit Value (NBD) of PERKA BAPETEN No. 7/2013 and Safety Report Series No. 47 of IAEA. The study of environmental gamma-radiation dose rates was carried out using a Portable Gamma Ray Survey meter device, the Ludlum brand, while to determine its geographic location a GPS (Global Positioning System) was used from the Garmin tool that plotted into the Google Maps program. The division of the area in the Bengkayang area made a radius of 0 - 1 km, 1 - 2.5 km, 2.5 - 5 km and 5 - 10 km, and there are 16 sections. The division of the area around the city of Pontianak, measurements were carried out by measuring the dose rate of environmental gamma radiation on roadside land every 3 km and in rivers every 3 km. The results of monitoring the level of gamma radiation dose rates in the Bengkayang Regency area were a radius of 0-1 km (0.015-0.120 µSv/h, an average of 0.047 µSv/h), 1-2.5 km (0.013-0.075 µSv/h, an average of 0.042 µSv/h), 2.5-5 km (0.027 - 0.104 µSv/h, an average of 0.039 µSv/h), and 5-10 km (0.010-0.089 µSv/h, an average of 0.037 µSv/h). The results of monitoring the level of gamma radiation dose rates at 14 land locations and 17 river locations in Pontianak City were ranged from 0.010 to 0.150 µSv/h with an average of 0.080 µSv/h. The lowest dose rate of Kapuas River water location, Pontianak city, was 0.01 µSv/h at the PLTD (Diesel Power Plant), Pengharapan, Kapur village, Sungai Raya sub-district, Kubu Raya district, while the highest gamma-radiation dose rate was 0.150 µSv/h at Supadio Airport, Pontianak. The average gamma-radiation dose rates in the Bengkayang monitoring area with a radius of 0 to 10 km, and several locations in the Pontianak area were still lower than the effective dose rate for the general population of 1 mSv / year or 0.5 µSv/h (PERKA BAPETEN No. 7/2013 and Safety Report Series No. 47 IAEA).