Public exposure from inhalation of radon and thoron around the tin mine and smelter areas in Bangka, Indonesia
Radon (<sup>222</sup>Rn) and thoron (<sup>220</sup>Rn) were reported as the highest contributors to natural radiation received by humans. Furthermore, radon has been stated as the second-highest cause of lung cancer. The concentrations of <sup>238</sup>U and <sup>232</sup>Th (the parent nuclide of radon and thoron, respectively) in nature vary with geological conditions and can be enhanced by human activities. Bangka Island in Indonesia is one such case with tin mining, where the environment contains a high amount of <sup>232</sup>Th due to the island's granite bedrock. This study assesses the public's exposure to radon and thoron inhalation on Bangka Island by conducting measurements using a continuous radon-thoron monitor and a time-integrated monitor for radon, thoron, and thoron progeny concentrations. From those measurements, their diurnal and seasonal variation in the dwellings on Bangka Island were analyzed. From 135 dwellings on Bangka Island, the estimated annual effective dose derived from the inhalation of radon, thoron, and their progenies reaches 4.3 mSv at the highest and a mean of 1.7 ± 0.8 mSv in which thoron contributes more than two times higher than radon. Note that the public exposure to radon and thoron inhalation in Bangka was within the reference level for the existing exposure situation.
Authors
- Masahiro Hosoda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5187-5446)
- Shinji Tokonami (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6617-7402)
- Yasutaka Omori (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3629-8761)
- Fahrul Islam
- Nurokhim Nurokhim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7129-3005)
- Sharah Nataz Shilfa
- Agus Nur Rachman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2737-6767)
- Michiya Sasaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0444-5459)
- Chutima Kranrod (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1880-8919)
- Heru Prasetio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1005-0688)
- Untara Untara
- Rini Safitri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6574-771X)
- Makhsun Makhsun
- Muflihatul Muniroh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0020-6722)
- Ilma Dwi Winarni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1683-3667)
- Radhia Pradana
- Irwan Kurnia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4762-6038)
- Rusbani Kurniawan
- Ilsa Rosianna (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8976-7712)
- Eka Djatnika Nugraha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6989-2313)
- Ade Devriany
- Susilo Widodo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0679-8845)
- Wahyudi Wahyudi
- Haeranah Ahmad
Institutions
- Diponegoro University (ID)
- Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (JP)
- Hirosaki University (JP)
- Universitas Syiah Kuala (ID)
- University of Bangka Belitung (ID)
- National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia (ID)
- Padjadjaran University (ID)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2024-12-28
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80443-w
- Citations
- 7
- Primary Topic
- Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.15
Funders
- Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional
- Hirosaki University
- Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science