RADIOLOGICAL HAZARDS ESTIMATION BY NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN WATER SAMPLES ALONG BATANG HARI RIVER, JAMBI

Abstract

Illegal mining activity is still operated along the watershed of Batang Hari, which could potentially be contaminated by natural radionuclides, which are Uranium-238 (²³⁸U), Thorium-232 (²³²Th), Radium-226 (²²⁶Ra), Polonium-210 (²¹⁰Po), Kalium (⁴⁰K), and Lead-210 (²¹⁰Pb). This study aimed to measure activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in river water, groundwater, and drinking water samples along Batang Hari River, then calculate radiological hazard parameters in the sample. The sample collects from 3 different locations from 3 sample types Muaro Jambi District, Jambi City, District Batanghari, Tebo District, and Bungo District. The samples were measured using gamma spectrometry High Purity Germanium (HPGe) for 17 hours. The results showed that the average value of the radiology hazard parameters sample consists of Ra_eq 0,307653, AEDE that is 1,771 x10^-6, and each external and internal hazard index are 0,00083 and 0,00155, respectively. The radiological hazard parameters in water samples along Batang Hari River, Jambi, are below the limit recommended that Ra_eq is 370 Bq.L^-1, AEDE is 1 mSv.y^-1, and hazard index H_ex and H_in are 1. This study showed that the water is safe and fulfills the radiological aspect of water quality requirements.