Assessment of Radionuclide Transfer from Soil to Vegetables in Farms from Cameron Highlands and Penang, (Malaysia) Using Neutron Activation Analysis

Abstract

<p>The concentrations of natural radionuclide of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th have been measured by neutron activation analysis technique in essential vegetables and soil samples collected from farms in Cameron Highlands and Penang, Malaysia. The concentrations of natural radionuclide in Tomato, Eggplant, Lattice, Pumpkin, Cucumber, Onion, Okra, and Chilli were measured. In soil, the average concentrations of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th were 203.832.05 Bq/kg and 186.173.35 Bq/kg, respectively in Cameron Highland. The highest concentrations of uranium and thorium were 6.251.58 Bq/kg and 2.51.55 Bq/kg in cucumber and lettuce products, respectively in the Cameron highlands. The transfer factors of these radionuclides from soil to vegetables were estimated. The highest estimation was in Cucumber and lettuce. These values were compared with the published data and were found to be within acceptable limits.</p

Distribution of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in rice plant components and physico-chemical effects of soil on their transportation to grains

“…Comparatively, the mean activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K for the selected soil were less than the mean values for that in Penang soil, as reported by Almayahi et al (2012) and in agreement with the value of 232 Th reported by Aswood, Jaafar, and Bauk (2013) for agricultural soil in this region (Ahmad, Jaafar, Bakhash, & Rahim, 2014). Nevertheless, all the mean values of the selected radionuclides were consistent within the previously reported concentration ranges of soil in Malaysia (UNSCEAR, 2000).…”

An overview on measurements of natural radioactivity in Malaysia

“…The radium equivalent activity and external hazard ranged from 129 to 1136 Bq kg À1 and 0.35 to 3.07, respectively. Aswood et al in 2013 reported transfer of radionuclide's from soil to Vegetables by using Neutron Activation Analysis (Aswood, Jaafar, & Bauk, 2013). The activity of 238 U and 232 Th ranged from 141 to 295.5 Bq kg À1 and 141e216.5 Bq kg À1 with the average values of 203.83 Bq kg À1 and 186.17 Bq kg À1 in Cameron highlands and 61e170.5 Bq kg À1 and 89.5e165.5 Bq kg À1 with the average values of 110 Bq kg À1 and 130 Bq kg À1 in Penang, respectively.…”

Penentuan Kepekatan Radionuklid Tabii dan Indeks Bahaya Radiologi akibat Penggunaan Condisoil® ke atas Penanaman Hibiscus cannabinus (Kenaf)

“…Kalium (atau 40 K) adalah nutrien yang mudah bergerak dan cenderung untuk berkumpul pada permukaan tanah (Masitah et al 2004). Kepekatan aktiviti 40 K dalam tanah juga tidak menyumbang kesan dedahan sinaran yang ketara disebabkan ia bukanlah progeni hasil daripada pereputan siri uranium dan torium (Hamzah et al 2011 (Ali et al 2016;Alsaffar et al 2015;Aswood et al 2013;Micheal et al 2014;Priharti & Supian 2016;Shyamal et al 2013 226 Ra 228 pengambilan radionuklid oleh tumbuhan (Greger 2004 K bagi kedua-dua musim penanaman masing masing ialah 0.42 -0.71, 0.01 -0.08 dan 0.85 -5.34. Keputusan kajian mendapati nilai faktor pemindahan radionuklid yang ditentukan dalam kajian ini adalah setara dengan nilai yang dilaporkan bagi pelbagai jenis tanaman dalam kajian terdahulu (Almayahi et al 2014;Gaffar et al 2014;Saeed et al 2011;Solehah et al 2016).…”