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

Abstract

Radiological studies to determine the health hazard associated with concentrations of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in soils of northern part of Pahang state Malaysia were conducted. In situ measurement for external gamma radiation and soil samples was taken from different locations covering the entire districts of the study area. The in situ measurements were conducted using NaI[Ti] detector. The mean terrestrial gamma dose rate (TGDR) was found to be 185 ± 7 nGy h−1. The soil samples were measured using high-purity germanium detector (HPGe) and analyzed using Genie2000 software. The results obtained shows that the mean activity concentrations of the radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the area were 117 ± 4, 151 ± 5 and 622 ± 57 Bq kg−1, respectively. The Radium equivalent activities (R eq), External hazard index (H ex) and Annual Effective Dose (AED) out doors were also found to be 380 Bq kg−1, 1.027 and 0.210 mSv year−1, respectively. The results were compared with values given in United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (2000).