The Natural Radionuclide Activity and the Risk of Potential Radiation in Health Effect: A Study on Beach Sand in Madura, Bali, and Lombok

Abstract

Introduction: Beach sand is one of the widely used aggregates in construction, especially in coastal areas. However, beach sand contains a hidden risk, namely radioactive hazards. This research will analyze the radioactive activity of nuclides 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K on beach sand and calculate the health risk potential in radiation exposure to the household. Methods: Beach sands sampling was carried out on Madura Island, Bali, and Lombok in 2016. All samples were ovensifted and then put into Marinelli to be chopped using high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray detectors for three days. Results and Discussion: The average of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K radionuclide activity on the beach sand in Madura were respectively 31.46 Bq/kg, 40.12 Bq/kg, and 334.04 Bq/ kg; in Bali were 25.10 Bq/kg, 7.71 Bq/kg, and 165.15. Bq/kg; and in Lombok the amount is 25.88 Bq/kg, 8.25 Bq/kg and 171.99 Bq/kg. The calculation of the radium equivalent (Raeq) value on beach sand in Madura, Bali, and Lombok has the highest value of 132.72 Bq/kg, 54.06 Bq/kg, and 55.92 Bq/kg. The gamma index (I) in Madura, Bali, and Lombok was 1.02; 0.39; and 0.40. For the calculation of Hex and Hin in Madura, Bali, and Lombok, the highest were 0.38; 0.15; 0.15; and 0.48; 0.23; 0.24. Conclusion: The activity of the three types of natural radionuclides from the three regions is still below the threshold value. Analysis of potential health risks showed in the gamma index value (I) indicator, which exceeds the safe threshold in the Madura beach sand sample.

Assessing the Radioactivity Level of Seawater and Sand Samples from the Baltic Sea Region

“…Radionuclides present in seawater 1 are not dangerous to humans because water molecules can block part of the alpha-, betta-, and gamma-ray energy. However, if radionuclides are present in drinking water, dry soil and/or air we breathe, they can cause serious health problems such as cancer, anemia, osteoporosis, cataracts, bone growth, and impairments of the various diseases and immune system of all living bodies 2,3 . For this reason, monitoring the concentration of radionuclides in the environment is very important for providing information in time about potential exposures that exceed the level of natural radiation by naturally abundant radioisotopes.…”

“…The Baltic Sea, with a water volume of ~ 22 thousand km 3 , is one of the most polluted seas by radionuclides in the world 4,5 , where pollution will only increase, given the pace of civilization development and the needs of the countries and populations living around the sea. Seawater constantly receives naturally occurring radionuclides such as H-3, C-14, U-238, Ra-236, Po-201, and K-40 from the atmosphere with rains/fogs 6 and various man-made radionuclides from the discharges of nuclear plants operating in the Baltic Sea region 4,5 , as well as from the spread of radionuclides released during the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident 7 .…”