Environmental radon/thoron concentrations and radiation levels in Sarawak and Sabah

Abstract

ABSTRACT

 The indoor and outdoor radon/thoron progenies concentrations and natural background radiation levels throughout Sarawak and Sabah were measured. The measurements were carried out at 234 locations in 40 towns in Sarawak and Sabah. The mean indoor and outdoor radon equilibrium equivalent concentrations (EEC) in Sarawak were found to be 1.2 Bqm^-3 and 1.5 Bqm^-3 respectively. In Sabah, the mean indoor and outdoor radon equilibrium equivalent concentrations were 1.7 Bqm^-3. The mean indoor and outdoor thoron equilibrium equivalent concentrations of 0.4 Bqm^-3 and 0.3Bqm^-3 respectively, were the same for Sarawak and Sabah. The mean indoor and outdoor radiation levels of 46 nGyh^-1 and 42 nGyh^-1 in Sarawak were slightly lower than the respective values in Sabah, i.e. 53 nGyh^-1 and 46 nGy h^-1.

 ABSTRAK

Kepekatan anak-anak radon/toron, aras sinaran latarbelakang tabii di dalam dan luar rumah kediaman di seluruh Sarawak dan Sabah telah diukur. Pengukuran telah dilaksanakan di 234 lokasi di 40 buah bandar di Sarawak dan Sabah. Min kepekatan kesetaraan keseimbangan bagi radon di dalam dan di luar rumah di Sarawak masing-masing adalah 1.2 Bqm^-3 and 1.5 Bqm^-3. Di Sabah pula, kedua-dua nilai tersebut adalah sama iaitu 1.7 Bq m^-3. Min kepekatan kesetaraan keseimbangan  bagi toron di dalam dan luar rumah yang masing-masingnya 0.4 Bqm^-3 dan 0.3 Bqm^-3adalah sama bagi Sarawak dan Sabah. Min aras sinaran  di dalam dan di luar rumah di Sarawak iaitu 46 nGyj^-1 dan 42 nGyj^-1 adalah lebih rendah dari nilai di Sabah iaitu 53 nGy j^-1 dan 46 nGyj^-1.