Journal of Environmental Protection
 Vol. 3  No. 9 (2012) , Article ID: 22717 , 7 pages DOI:10.4236/jep.2012.39126

Study of Environmental Radiation on Sand and Soil Samples from Kuakata Sea Beach of Patuakhali

Khondaker Mohammed Nazrul Islam1, Debasish Paul2, Md. Mahbubur Rahman Bhuiyan3*, Amina Akter1, Budrun Neher3, Sheikh Mohammad Azharul Islam1

1Department of Physics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Bangladesh; 2Health Physics & Radioactive Waste Management Unit (HP & RWMU), Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology (INST), Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE), Savar, Bangladesh; 3Department of Physics, Comilla University, Comilla, Bangladesh.

Email: *rahmanmahbubur@ymail.com

Received June 15th, 2012; revised July 10th, 2012; accepted August 7th, 2012

Keywords: Radionuclide; Activity Concentration; HPGe detector; Kuakata Seabeach; 226Ra; 232Th; 40K and 137Cs

ABSTRACT

The activity concentrations of radionuclides in the sand and soil samples collected from Kuakata seabeach of Patuakhali district in Bangladesh have measured using a high resolution high purity germanium (HPGe) detector of relative efficiency 40%. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were found in the sand samples of Kuakata seabeach varied from 2.82 ± 4.89 to 87.96 ± 4.45 Bq·Kg–1, 21.72 ± 16.27 to 290.93 ± 18.15 Bq·Kg–1 and 26.24 ± 0.35 to 852.05 ± 142.15 Bq·Kg–1 respectively. For soil samples the activity concentrations of corresponding radionuclides were found to be 20.98 ± 3.96 to 42.92 ± 4.76 Bq·Kg–1, 59.25 ± 15.62 to 144.34 ± 18.52 Bq·Kg–1 and 570.43 ± 100.3 to 1165 ± 166.27 Bq·Kg–1 respectively. The average absorbed dose rate due to radionuclides in sand was estimated to range from 51.84 to 246.55 nGy·h–1 with an average of 98.33 nGy·h–1. Also the average absorbed dose rate due to radionuclides in soil was estimated to range from 76.63 nGy·h–1 to 142.36 nGy·h–1 with an average of 110.04 nGy·h–1. Radium equivalent activities were calculated for the analyzed samples to assess the radiation hazards arising due to the presence of this radionuclide in the samples. Most of the calculated radium equivalent activities are lower than the limit set in the OECD report (370 Bq·kg–1). The measured representative level index values for the investigated samples varied in the range 0.8 to 3.75.

1. Introduction

Radiation is present in every environment of the Earth’s surface, beneath the Earth and in the atmosphere. According to UNSCEAR (1993), about 87% of the radiation dose received by mankind is due to natural radiation sources and the remaining is due to anthropogenic radiation [1]. It is observed that most of natural radioactive elements present in soil are primordial radionuclides from the uranium series, thorium series, and 40K [2]. The man and the animal kingdom however make adjustment to the natural radiation sources. But the advent of artificial or man-made radiation sources, when man succeeded in fissioning of the uranium atomic nucleus, their widespread application and accidental uncontrolled release of radioactivity in the environment have altered the balance. Nuclear weapons test release radioactive fissions products into the atmosphere and its depositions over the earth’s surface are termed “fallout”. The distribution of this fallout in the environment takes place in various ways depending on the strength of the nuclear device, mode of burst and climate conditions. Significant amounts of man-made radionuclides, 137Cs and 90Sr, are also present in the environment as a result of nuclear weapon tests and nuclear accidents [1].

Radionuclides can be deposited to the sand and soil in various ways. The uranium, thorium series and potassium-40 are the most common radionuclides present in most material. All radionuclides release ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation may cause cancer. Any amount of radiation dose may cause stochastic effect (e.g. cancer etc.). Uncontrolled radiation from any source is harmful to the occupational workers, public and environment.

Assessment of any release of radioactivity to the environment is important for the protection of public health; especially if the released radioactivity is a matter of direct population exposure and can enter into the food chain [3].

Beach sand or soil is mineral deposits formed through the weathering and erosion of rocks. These deposits found at different levels within the sand contain natural radionuclides that contribute to ionizing radiation exposure on earth [4]. Kuakata Seabeach of Patuakhali is one of the attractive tourist places in Bangladesh. An attempt has made in this study to determine the concentration of 238U, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs in beach sand and soil samples collected from Kuakata Seabeach of Patuakhali using HPGe gamma ray spectrometer and to compute the total absorbed gamma dose rate in air due to the presence of 238U, 232Th and 40K in the samples.

2. Materials and Method

2.1. The Study Area

Kuakata Seabeach is the area of interest in the present study, which is located at Patuakhali district in Bangladesh. The study area is situated at about 65 kilometer away and to the north of Patuakhali. The locations of sample collection are shown in Figure 1. The sand samples were collected from the beach area while the soil samples were collected from adjacent locality around the beach.

2.2. Collection and Preparation of Samples

For the measurement of natural radionuclides at the study area, a total of 15 sand samples and 7 soil samples were collected from in and around the seabeach areas. Each sample was taken maintaining a distance of about 1 km from each other. About 0.75 - 1.00 kg of sample was collected from each location and each of the samples was placed in plastic packet and transported to the laboratory. Each of the collected sand and soil samples was first

Figure 1. Geographical location of SAMPLING area.

weighed, then dried at about 110˚C in an oven for 24 hours and there after ground into a fine powder with a grinder and collected after passing through a 10-mesh screen. Thus, homogenized sample was transferred to sealable cylindrical plastic container of 7 cm height and 5.5 cm in diameter, marked individually with identification parameters. All the sample containers were sealed tightly with cap and wrapped with Teflon and thick vinyl tapes around their screw necks and finally air tightened with polythene pack and stored for minimum four weeks prior to counting, allowing establishment of secular equilibrium between the long lived 238U, 232Th and their decay products.

2.3. Data Collection and Analysis

After adjustment of necessary parameters such as resolution, peak to Compton ratio etc. and measurement of minimum detectable activity of the detectors, each of the collected samples was placed on the top of the HPGe detector within the shielding arrangement and counted for above 10,000 seconds. Gamma ray spectrometry can be used to identify gamma ray energies and consequently the radioactive species which are producing them. The area under the peak in a gamma ray spectrum represents the number of counts collected for only that gamma ray energy. These peak areas were used for determination of radioactivity concentration of the radionuclides present in the sample. The net count of the sample is obtained by subtracting a linear background distribution of the pulse height spectra from the corresponding peak energy area. From the net counts of the samples activity concentration of the radionuclides were calculated using the formula

(1)

where, A is the activity concentration in Bq·kg–1, CPS is the net peak counts per second of the samples, W is the weight of the sample in gm, ε(abs) is the absolute gamma peak detection efficiency, Ir(abs) is the absolute gamma intensity of the corresponding gamma ray energy. Gamma rays intensities were taken from the literature [5]. The peak detection efficiencies were calculated from the full energy peak detection efficiency curve plotted using Al2O3 based 226Ra standard as shown Figure 2. The error in the measurement have been expressed in terms of standard deviation, where is expressed as,

(2)

where Ns is the counts measured in time Ts and Nb is the background counts measured in time Tb. The standard deviation in CPS was converted into activity concentration in Bq·Kg–1 according to Equation (1).

Figure 2. Efficiency curve of HPGe detector.

Most prominent gamma energy peaks of 351.92 keV (due to 214Pb) and 609.31 keV (due to 214Bi) were used to determine 226Ra; 911.07 keV (due to 228Ac) and 969.11 keV (due to 228Ac) were used to determine 232Th; 1460.75 keV was used to determine 40K and 661.66 keV was used to determine 137Cs.

2.4. Radiological Hazard Assessment

2.4.1. Radium Equivalent Activities

The radium equivalent activity is an index that represents the specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K by a single quantity which takes into account the radiation hazards associated with them. This can be calculated using the equation below [4] as

(3)

where CRa, CTh and CK are the specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in Bq·Kg–1 respectively. The maximum value of Raeq in building materials must be <370 Bq·Kg–1 for safe use [4].

2.4.2. Representative Level Index Values

Another radiation hazard index called the representative level index, used to estimate the level of gamma radiation associated with different concentrations of some specific radionuclides, can be defined as follows [6]

(4)

where CRa ,CTh ,CK are the specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in Bq·Kg–1 were calculated for the samples under investigation to indicate different levels of external g-radiation due to different combination of specific natural activities in other materials. This index can be used to estimate the level of g-radiation hazard associated with the natural radionuclide in the materials.

2.4.3. Dose Rate Calculation

The formula given in the UNSCEAR (1998) report was used to estimate the absorbed gamma dose rate in outdoor air due to natural radionuclides from the beach sand and soil one metre above the surface [1] as

(5)

where CRa CTh and CK are specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in Bq·Kg–1. The total absorbed dose rate for the present studied samples from a height of one meter above the ground surface as shown in Table 3.

3. Results and Discussions

The natural radioactivity level of sand and soil samples collected from Kuakata sea beach of Patuakhali district in Bangladesh were measured using high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The activity concentration of 226Ra in sand samples ranged from 2.82 ± 4.89 to 87.96 ± 4.45 Bq·Kg–1 with an average value of 29.48 ± 3.85 Bq·Kg–1. The concentration of 232Th in sand samples ranged from 21.72 ± 16.27 to 290.93 ± 18.15 Bq·Kg–1 with an average value of 93.72 ± 15.62 Bq·Kg–1 and the concentration of 40K in sand samples ranged from 26.24 ± 0.35 to 852.05 ± 142.15 Bq·Kg–1 with an average value of 551.24 ± 109.95 Bq·Kg–1.

The activity concentration of 226Ra in soil samples ranged from 20.98 ± 3.96 to 42.92 ± 4.76 Bq·Kg–1 with an average value of 29.19 ± 4.88 Bq·Kg–1. The activity concentration of 232Th in soil samples ranged from 59.25 ± 15.62 to 144.34 ± 18.52 Bq·Kg–1 with an average value of 90.56 ± 17.94 Bq·Kg–1 and the concentration of 40K in soil samples ranged from 570.43 ± 100.3 to 1165 ± 166.27 Bq·Kg–1 with an average value of 874.89 ± 119.96 Bq·Kg–1.

The mean activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K Bq·Kg–1; range and mean values of activity concentrations; radium equivalent activities (Raeq) in Bq·Kg–1, representative level index values (Igr), dose rate (D) in nGy·h–1 are shown in the Tables 1-3 respectively. The mean activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in sand and soil samples are shown graphically in Figures 3 and 4 respectively. Since no 137Cs radionuclide was detected in any of the sand and soil samples, it indicates that there is no fission product present in the sand and soil samples of Kuakata seabeach.

From the activities given in Table 1, activity ratios of 232Th and 226Ra were computed for all the sand and soil samples. These ratios (232Th/226Ra) varied from 1.68 to 8.57 (mean: 4.45) for all the sand samples and 2.14 to 4.57 (mean: 3.17) for all the soil samples indicating that the concentration of 232Th is greater than that of 226Ra.

From Table 1, it has observed that the mean activity of 226Ra (29.48) in sand is about 1.18 times higher than that of the world average (25 Bq·Kg–1) [7] and the mean activity of 226Ra (29.19) in soil is about 1.17 times higher than that of the world average (25 Bq·Kg–1) [7], whereas the mean activity of 232Th (93.72) in sand is about 3.75 times higher than that of the world average (25 Bq·Kg–1) [7] and the mean activity of 232Th (90.56) in soil is about

Table 1. The mean activity concentration of the measured radionuclides in sand and soil samples in Kuakata seabeach of Patuakhali.

Table 2. Range and mean value of activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th & 40K in Bq·Kg–1 of the samples.

Table 3. Radium equivalent activities (Raeq) in Bq·Kg–1, Representative level index values (Igr) in Bq·Kg–1, Dose rate (D) in nGy·h–1 in Sand and Soil samples in Kuakata seabeach of Patuakhali.

Figure 3. Mean activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th & 40K in Bq·Kg–1 in the sand samples.

Figure 4. Mean activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th & 40K in Bq·Kg–1 in the soil samples.

Table 4. Activity concentration of radionuclides in sand or soil samples from different parts of the world.

3.62 times higher than that of the world average (25 Bq·Kg–1) [7]. 40K mean activity (551.24) in sand is 1.48 times higher than that of the world average (370 Bq·Kg–11) [7] and mean activity (874.89) in soil samples is 2.36 times higher than that of the world average (370 Bq·Kg–1) [7].

It can be observed from Table 3 that the calculated total dose rate due to the presence of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in sand varied from 51.84 to 246.55 nGy·h–1 with an average of 98.33 nGy·h–1, which is 1.78 times higher than the world average value (55 nGy·h–1) [8] and in soil varied from 76.63 to 142.36 with an average value of 110.04 nGy·h–1, which is 2 times higher than the world average value (55 nGy·h–1) [8].

The experimental results of radium equivalent activity (Table 3) which indicate radiation hazards arising from the various beach samples (sand and soil) studies show that the average Raeq values are below the internationally acceptable value of 370 Bq·Kg–1 [9].

A comparative study was also performed for the activity concentrations in the present work with the other studies performed in home and aboard and is shown in the Table 4.

The activity concentrations of the radionuclides in the sand and soil samples collected from Kuakata seabeach are within the range of values reported in the other work performed in home and abroad.

4. Conclusion

The present environmental radiation level on the sand and soil of Kuakata seabeach at Patuakhali district in Bangladesh has been carried out by using gamma spectrometry system. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in beach sand and soil, dose rate and other calculated hazard indices are comparable with the world average. The study also reflects that there is no fallout 137Cs in the sand and soil samples of the area under investigation. Finally it can be concluded that no harmful radiation effects are pose to the public and tourists going to the beaches for recreation or to the sailors and fishermen involved in their activities in the area as a results of the activity of beach sand and soil.

REFERENCES

  1. V. Kannana, M. P. Rajana, M. A. R. Iyengara and R. Rameshb, “Distribution of Natural and Anthropogenic Radionuclides in Soil and Beach Sand Samples of Kalpakkam (India) Using Hyper Pure Germanium (HPGe) Gamma Ray Spectrometry,” Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Vol. 57, No. 1, 2002, pp. 109-119. doi:10.1016/S0969-8043(01)00262-7
  2. S. U. El-Kameesy, S. Abd El-Ghany, S. M. El-Minyawi, Z. Miligy and E. M. El-Mabrouk, “Natural Radioactivity of Beach Sand Samples in the Tripoli Region, Northwest Libya,” Turkish Journal of Engineering & Environmental Science, Vol. 32, No. 1, 2008, pp. 245-251.
  3. IAEA, “Measurement of Radio-Nuclides in Food and the Environment,” IAEA Technical Report Series, No. 295, 1989.
  4. A. Amekudzie, G. Emi-Reynolds, A. Faanu, E. O. Darko, A. R. Awudu, O. Adukpo, L. A. N. Quaye, R. Kpordzro, B. Agyemang and A. Ibrahim, “Natural Radioactivity Concentrations and Dose Assessment in Shore Sediments along the Coast of Greater Accra, Ghana,” World Applied Sciences Journal, Vol. 13, No. 11, 2011, pp. 2338-2343.
  5. International Atomic Energy Agency, “Measurement of Radionuclides in Food and the Environment: A Guidebook,” International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1989.
  6. NEA Group, “Nuclear Energy Agency, Exposure to Radiation from Natural Radioactivity in Building Materials,” OECD, Paris, 1979.
  7. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), “Sources, Effects and Risks of Ionising Radiation,” United Nations, New York, 1988.
  8. M. R. Abdil, H. Faghihian, M. Kamali, M. Mostajaboddavati and A. Hasanzadeh, “Distribution of Natural Radionuclides on Coasts of Bushehr, Persian Gulf, Iran,” Iranian Journal of Science & Technology: Transaction A, Vol. 30, No. A3, 2006, pp. 259-269.
  9. K. A. Kabir, S. M. A. Islam and M. M. Rahman, “Distribution of Radionuclides in Surface Soil and Bottom Sediment in the District of Jessore, Bangladesh and Evaluation of Radiation Hazard,” Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 33, No. 1, 2009, pp. 117-130.
  10. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), “Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation,” United Nations, New York, 1993.
  11. R. D. Delaune, G. L. Jones and C. J. Smith. “Radinuclides Concentrations in Louisiana Soils and Sediments,” Health Physics, Vol. 51, No. 2, 1986, pp. 239-244.
  12. N. M. Ibrahiem, A. H. Abd El Ghani, S. M. Shawky, E. M. Ashraf and M. A. Farouk, “Measurement of Radioactivity Levels in the Nile Delta and Middle Egypt,” Health Physics, Vol. 64, No. 6, 1993, pp. 620-627. doi:10.1097/00004032-199306000-00007
  13. N. M. Ibrahiem, S. Shawky and H. A. Amer, “Radioactivity Levels in Lake Nasser Sediments,” Applied Radiation and Isotope, Vol. 46, No. 5, 1995, pp. 297-299. doi:10.1016/0969-8043(94)00144-O
  14. F. K. Miah, S. Roy, M. Touhiduzzaman and B. Alam, “Distribution of Radionuclides in Soil Samples in and around Dhaka City,” Applied Radiation and Isotope, Vol. 49, No. 1, 1998, pp. 133-137. doi:10.1016/S0969-8043(97)00232-7
  15. M. N. Alam, M. I. Chowdhury, M. Kamal, M. A. R. Molla and M. A. Ammam, “Radioactivity Monitoring of Food and Environment Radioactivity Testing Laboratory, Chittagong,” Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, RTL-1, October 1987-December 1990.
  16. S. Ali, M. Tufail, K. Jamie, A. Ahmed and H. A. Khan, “Gamma-Ray Activity and Dose Rate of Brick Samples from Some Area of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan,” Science of Total Environment, Vol. 187, No. 3, 1996, pp. 247-252. doi:10.1016/0048-9697(96)05109-1
  17. J. R. Rosell, X. Ortega and X. Dies, “Natural and Artificial Radionuclides on the Northeast Coast of Spain,” Health Physics, Vol. 60, No. 5, 1991, pp. 709-712. doi:10.1097/00004032-199105000-00010
  18. H. R. Saad and D. Al-Azmi, “Radioactivity Concentrations in Sediments and Their Correlation to the Coastal Structure in Kuwait,” Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Vol. 56, No. 6, 2002, pp. 991-997. doi:10.1016/S0969-8043(02)00061-1
  19. M. N. Alam, M. I. Chowdhury, M. Kamal, S. Ghose, M. N. Islam and M. N. Mustafa, “The 226Ra, 232Th and 40K Activities in Beach Sand Minerals and Beach Soils of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh,” Journal Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 46, No. 2, 1999, pp. 243-250. doi:10.1016/S0265-931X(98)00143-X

NOTES

*Corresponding author.

Journal Menu >>