Sains Malaysiana 43(2)(2014): 227–231

Measuring Radon Concentration and Toxic Elements in the Irrigation Water of the Agricultural Areas in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

(Mengukur Kepekatan Radon dan Unsur Toksik dalam Air Saliran Kawasan Pertanian

di Tanah Tinggi Cameron, Malaysia)

MURTADHA S. AL-NAFIEY*¹, MOHAMMAD S. JAAFAR¹& SABAR BAUK²

¹Radiation and Medical Physics, School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia

11800 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

²Physics Section, School of Distance Education, Universiti Sains Malaysia

11800 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Received: 7 January 2013/Accepted: 23 July 2013

ABSTRACT

Radon and toxic elements (Pb, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Zn and Ni) were measured in different water samples in Cameron Highlands, Pahang. RAD7 and rad H₂0 were used to estimate the radon concentration. The average values for radon concentration were found to vary from a minimum of 0.21 Bq/L to a maximum of 0.297 Bq/L. Heavy metals concentration were measured using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cr were 0.07, 0.009, 0.009, 0.043, 0.076, 0.079 mg/L and ND, respectively. Comparing the results with the literature shows that the concentrations obtained were within the allowed limits of the agricultural and domestic use.

Keywords: Cameron Highlands; radon; toxic elements; water irrigation

ABSTRAK

Radon dan unsur toksik (Pb, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Zn dan Ni) telah diukur dalam sampel air yang berlainan di Tanah Tinggi Cameron, Pahang. RAD7 dan rad H₂O telah digunakan untuk menganggarkan kepekatan radon. Nilai purata bagi kepekatan radon didapati berubah daripada minimum 0.21 Bq/L ke maksimum 0.297 Bq/L. Kepekatan logam berat telah diukur menggunakan spektrometer penyerapan atom. Kepekatan min Pb, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn dan Cr adalah masing-masing 0.07, 0.009, 0.009, 0.043, 0.076, 0.079 mg/L dan tidak dikesan. Membandingkan keputusan yang diperoleh dengan keputusan lain yang telah diterbitkan, didapati kepekatan yang diperoleh adalah dalam had yang dibenarkan untuk kegunaan pertanian dan domestik.

Kata kunci: Radon; saliran air; Tanah Tinggi Cameron; unsur toksik

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*Corresponding author; email: murtadhababylon@gmail.com