Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Radioactivity in the Exclusive Economic Zone of east coast Peninsular Malaysia: distribution trends of 137Cs in surface seawater

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Large volumes of surface seawater samples were collected from thirty locations in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the east coast Peninsular Malaysia on June 2008 to study the activity concentrations of 137Cs. The results will serve as additional information to the existing baseline data and is very useful for monitoring fresh input of anthropogenic radionuclide into Malaysian marine environment. In this study, the activity concentrations of 137Cs were determined using co-precipitation technique, followed by Gamma Spectrometry measurement. The mean activity concentration of 137Cs ranged between 3.40 and 5.89 Bq/m3. Higher activity concentrations were observed at the coastal and towards the south of Peninsular Malaysia and were aligned with the high turbidity. These may due to the rapid diffusion of 137Cs from suspended particulates and fine sediments into surface seawater. The activity concentrations of 137Cs observed in this study were slightly higher than the concentrations reported in seawater at the Straits of Malacca, Vietnam and Philippines. This might be because the study area received more input of 137Cs that originated from global fallout and then deposited on land which later being transported subsequently into the coastal zone due to siltation and erosion processes. It could also be attributed to the intrusion of river waters containing higher concentrations of 137Cs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Labrecque JJ, Cordoves PR, Cordoves MA, Perez K, Palacios D, Alfonso JA (2010) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 283:669

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Godoy JM, Schuch LA, Nordemann DJR, Reis VRG, Ramalho M, Recio JC, Brito RRA, Olech MA (1998) J Environ Radioact 41(1):33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Zhiyong L, Shaoming P, Xuying L, Jianhua G (2010) J Geogr Sci 20(1):91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Shaoming P, Dayong G, Zhiyong L (2008) Acta Sedimentol Sinica 26(4):655 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ikäheimonen TK, Outola L, Vartti V-P, Kotilainen P (2009) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 282:419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Lee MH, Lee CW, Hong KH, Choi YH, Boo BH (1996) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 204(1):135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Strand P, Balonov M, Aarkrog A, Bewers MJ, Howard B, Salo A, Tsaturov YS (1998) Report: Arctic monitoring and assessment programme (AMAP). Oslo, Norway, pp 525

  8. (2002) Reader’s Digest. Reader’s digest (Australia) Pty Limited, Sydney, pp 40. ISBN 1 876689 26 9

  9. World Nuclear Association (2009) World nuclear power reactors 2007–09 and uranium requirements. http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/reactors.html. Accessed 5 Feb 2009

  10. Sanchez-Cabeza JA, Pujol L, Merino J, Bruach JM, Molero J (2000) Water Air Soil Poll 118:339

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Mohsin KM, Mohamed MI (1998) Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Occasional Publication No. 8, pp 168

  12. Su CC, Huh CA, Chen JC (2000) Terr Atmos Ocean Sci 11(4):753

    Google Scholar 

  13. Zaharudin A, Yii MW, Kamarozaman I, Wood AK (2003) Analytical chemistry: application and current issues. Lee Ming Press, Kuching, p 131

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hirose K, Amano H, Baxter MS, Chaykovskaya E, Chumichev VB, Hong GH, Isogai K, Kim CK, Kim SH, Miyao T, Morimoto T, Nikitin A, Oda K, Pettersson HBL, Povinec PP, Seto Y, Tkalin A, Togawa O, Veletova NK (1999) J Environ Radioact 43:1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Nagaya Y, Nakamura K (1981) Oceanogr Soc Jpn 37:135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Zaharudin A, Yii MW, Abu Bakar AS, Hidayah S (2010) Appl Radiat Isot (Accepted)

  17. Nakamura K, Nagaya Y (1977) J Oceanogr Soc Jpn 33:1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Ueda S, Hasegawa H, Iyogi T, Kawabata H, Kondo K (2000) IRPA international congress proceedings, Hiroshima, Japan, P-4a-250. pp 1

  19. Park G, Lin XJ, Kim W, Kang HD, Kim Y, Doh SH, Kim DS, Yun SG, Kim CK (2004) J Environ Radioact 77(3):285

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Duran EB, Povinec PP, Fowler SW, Airey PL, Hong GH (2004) J Environ Radioact 76:139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Lujanienė G, Šilobritienė B, Jokšas K, Morkūnienė R (2004) Environ Res Eng Manag 2(28):23

    Google Scholar 

  22. Yii MW, Zaharudin A (2004) J Nucl Related Tech 1(2):17

    Google Scholar 

  23. Nguyen TN, Nguyen TB (2003) Project formulation meeting on enhancing the marine coastal environment, progress report, Kuala Lumpur, Mar 2003, pp 3

  24. Yamada M, Wang ZL, Zheng J (2006) J Environ Radioact 90(2):163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Aoyama M (1995) J Environ Radioact 29(1):57

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Funding from MOSTI, the ScienceFund 04-03-01-SF0020 is gratefully acknowledged. We would like to thank the captain and crews of KL PAUS for their assistance during sampling expedition and Radiochemistry and Environment Group staffs for their support and assistance throughout this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Waste & Environmental Technology Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia), Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Zaharudin Ahmad, Zal U’yun Wan Mahmood, Hidayah Shahar, Mei Wo Yii & Ahmad Sanadi Abu Bakar

Authors
  1. Zaharudin Ahmad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zal U’yun Wan Mahmood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hidayah Shahar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mei Wo Yii
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ahmad Sanadi Abu Bakar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zaharudin Ahmad.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ahmad, Z., Wan Mahmood, Z.U., Shahar, H. et al. Radioactivity in the Exclusive Economic Zone of east coast Peninsular Malaysia: distribution trends of 137Cs in surface seawater. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 287, 329–334 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-010-0692-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-010-0692-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation