IDENTIFICATION OF PRIMORDIAL RADIONUCLIDES IN SOIL AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS ON THE ENVIRONMENT CASE STUDY : BOTTENG VILLAGE, SIMBORO DISTRICT, MAMUJU REGENCY

• Main Author: Wijaya, Sherina
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Geologi, hidrologi & meteorologi
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/80937
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The research area focuses on Botteng Village, Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi, an area known for its elevated natural background radiation, surpassing the levels observed across the rest of Indonesia. This study utilizes 20 soil samples obtained from Botteng Village, Mamuju Regency. The main study objective aims to identify the type, amount, and distribution of natural radionuclide activity in soil samples and to determine the annual effective dose as well as evaluate the transfer factor's implications for the surrounding environment. The research uses a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometer detector tool to measure radiation values, alongside the ERICA Tools software for analyzing the environmental impact of radiation exposure. The measurements identified the highest levels of ²²?Ra, ²³²Th, and ??K in the soil samples are 24,790 Bq/kg, 2,421 Bq/kg, and 434 Bq/kg, respectively. These values exceed the threshold limits set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2014. Radiation exposure distribution analysis is conducted by interpolating radioactivity data in the soil with the lithological conditions of the research area, utilizing the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) method. The assumption is that one point is influenced by surrounding points. The study highlights increased natural radiation exposure in weathered soil from the Tapalang Breccia lithology. This heightened exposure is attributed to the presence of radioactive elements formed during volcanic activity with an alkaline composition. The calculated annual effective dose ranges from 3 mSv to 73 mSv, surpassing the world average annual radiation dose of 2.4 mSv. The elevated radionuclide levels in the soil pose a significant risk to surrounding organisms.