Environmental Radiation and Radioactivity levels around the Coal-fired Power Plants in Banten Province

Coal is one of the most important fuel for power plant of electricity supply. However, coal contains trace quantities of the naturally occurring primordial radionuclides such as 40K and 238U, 232Th and their decay products. Therefore, the combustion of coal is one of important sources release some natural radioactivities into the environment. The objective of this study is measurement of terrestrial gamma dose rate and radioactivity levels in areas surrounding thermal power plant fueled by coal in Banten Province. The natural gamma terrestrial radiation dose rates 1 m above
ground level were measured in the vicinity of Suralaya, Labuhan and Lontar Coal-fired Power Plants in Banten
Province. Soil samples were collected from these three Power Plants. Activity concentrations of the radionuclides of 226Ra, 232Th, 228Th and 40K were determined in the soil samples. Then, the terrestrial gamma dose rate and distribution of natural radioactivity concentration in surface soils were evaluated. The terrestrial gamma dose rate were ranged from 25.26 to 65.23 nSvh-1 with mean of 43.31 nSvh-1. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 228Th and 40K were varied from 8.09 – 59.59 Bqkg-1, 11.98 – 103.3 Bqkg-1, 11.85 – 60.96 Bqkg-1, 12.31 – 554.5 Bqkg-1 with a mean value of 22.76, 36.10, 31.00 and 131.6 Bqkg-1, respectively. Generally, the terrestrial gamma dose rate and radioactivity levels are comparable with the normal regions or background area.