Characterization of suspended PM2.5 and PM10 concentration and radioactivity around rembang steam power plant

Abstract

Around Rembang Power Plant, ambient air samples of PM2.5 and PM10 has been taken. Result of this study can be useful as information for stakeholder and also people around Rembang power plant. Total characterization of average mass concentration in 6 locations for PM 2.5 and PM10 are 17.08 μg/m3 and 27.38 μg/m3 respectively. Those values are below air quality requirement by WHO. According to WHO, PM 2.5 should not exceed 25 μg/m3 and PM10 is not more than 50 μg/m3. Mass of PM 2.5 was around 63% from PM10 mass. This data shows that fossil fuel is main source of suspended particulate matter around Rembang power plant. Radioactivity analysis was done using gamma spectrometry, HPGe detector, radioactive sources (Eu-152 and Cs-137) and also Maestro 2 software. Radioactivity of Ra- 226 for PM2.5 and PM10, are 5.72 μBq/m3 and 7.30 μBq/m3 respectively. Radioactivity of Th-232 for PM2,5 and PM10 are 1.17 μBq/m3 and 2.59 μBq/m3 respectively, while radioactivity of K-40 for PM2.5 and PM10 are 17.68 μBq/m3 and 25.58 μBq/m3, respectively. Those values of radioactivity are below recommended values released by Regulation of Nuclear Regulatory Agency Head Number 7 Year of 2017 About Radioactivity Level in Air. According to this law, radioactivity of Ra-226 is below 1800 μBq/m3 and for Th-232 is below 2300 μBq/m3.