Frequency distribution of specific activities and radiological hazard assessment in surface beach sand samples collected from Pattaya beach in Chonburi province, Thailand

Nopparit  Changkit; Prasong  Kessaratikoon; Ruthairat  Boonkrongcheep; Udorn  Youngchuay; Sittipong  Polthum

Authors

Nopparit Changkit Graduate Student, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Thaksin University, Phatthalung Campus, Paphayom, Phatthalung, 93210, Thailand
Prasong Kessaratikoon Nuclear and Material Physics Research Unit (NuMPRU), Department of Basic Science and Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Thaksin University, Songkhla Campus, Muang, Songkhla 90000, Thailand
Ruthairat Boonkrongcheep Nuclear and Material Physics Research Unit (NuMPRU), Department of Basic Science and Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Thaksin University, Songkhla Campus, Muang, Songkhla 90000, Thailand
Udorn Youngchuay Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (Public Organization) (TINT), 9/9 Moo7 Sai Moon, Ongkharak, Nakorn Nayok, 26120, Thailand
Sittipong Polthum Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (Public Organization) (TINT), 9/9 Moo7 Sai Moon, Ongkharak, Nakorn Nayok, 26120, Thailand

Keywords:

gamma-ray spectrometry, high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector, radioactive contour map, radiological hazard assessment, radiological hazard index, specific activity, surface beach sand

Abstract

We measured and analyzed the specific activities of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³²Th in 70 surface beach sand samples collected along the Pattaya beach in Chonburi province, Thailand. The results from this study were carried out by using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector and low background gamma-ray spectrometry which were set-up at the advanced laboratory at Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (Public Organization) or TINT. The specific activities level of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³²Th were found to lie in the range of 108.85 - 584.78, 4.56 - 56.98, and 4.45 - 79.17 Bq/kg with average values of 228.62 9.08, 12.05 0.71, 13.65 1.03 Bq/kg, respectively. The frequency distribution of the specific activities of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³²Th were studied and found to be the asymmetrical distribution by using a special computer program. Hence, the median values of specific activities of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³²Th which were 214.65 9.00, 8.43 0.64, 8.94 0.90 Bq/kg respectively, should be selected to be used for further studying. We also studied and calculated four radiological hazard indices for the investigated area by using these median values. Furthermore, the studied results were used to compare with some studies and literatures around the world in both national and international level. Moreover, the radioactive contour maps (RCM) of the studied area were also originated and shown in this study.

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