Determination of Environmental Radiation and Radioactivity Levels at a Coal Fired Power Plant Site in Paiton Region

Determination of environmental radiation and radioactivity levels at a coal fired power plant (CFPP) site in Paiton region, Probolinggo (East Java) has been carried out. The objective of this study is to calculate the distribution of natural radionuclide concentrations in the various environmental. The study area covered the area in radius of 10 km from a stack of CFPP. Measurement of concentration 228Th, 226Ra, and 40K in the various environmental samples were carried out using the gamma spectrometer with a detector of semiconductor HP-Ge. Measurement of concentration 14C and gross alpha in air has been carried out using the liquid scintillation counting and low background counting α/β system respectively. Measurement of gamma radiation has been carried out directly using the ionization chamber. The result of measurement show that highest concentration in soil was (80.81±0.39) Bq/kg for 228Th, (74.43±0.65) Bq/kg for 226Ra, and (520.43±5.36) Bq/kg for 40K. the highest concentration in water was (37.20±0.75) mBq/L for 228Th, undetectable for 226Ra, and (90.82±1.74) mBq/L for 40K. the highest concentration in grass/agriculture product was (0.98±0.05) Bq/kg wet for 228Th, (0.75±0.05) Bq/kg wet for 226Ra, and (34.53±0.01) Bq/kg wet for 40K. the highest concentration 14C and gross alpha in air was (11.9±1.9)x10-3 Bq/m3 and (3.59±1.89) Bq/m3, and the highest dose rate was (9.55±0.13) μR/h. The measurement values obtained are all below the maximum permissible concentration and dose limits in environment