A Study on Radiation Impact in Surface Beach Sand Samples in Songkhla Province, Thailand after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident in Japan

Abstract

The specific activities of anthropogenic radionuclide which is 137Cs in 270 surface beach sand samples collected from 7 beaches from 5 districts in Songkhla province in southern region of Thailand, have been measured and analyzed after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident in Japan by using high purity germanium detector and gamma spectrometry analysis system. It was found that the specific activities of 137Cs ranged from 0.00 – 9.91 Bq/kg and the maximum average values of 4.19 ± 1.15 Bq/kg which was measured in Soisawan beach in Thepa district. Furthermore, the results were also compared with the Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) annual report data, Thailand and global radioactivity measurements and evaluations. It was also found that the average values in all beaches were in the same level and close to the comparable data. Thus, we can say that the investigated area had no radiation impact after the accident. Moreover, the radioactive contour maps of the studied area were also created.