CTBT data for environmental radiological monitoring: a preliminary study in Malaysia

Abstract

Abstract Numerous anthropogenic nuclear activities in the Asia Pacific have exposed the region to radiological contamination risks, dating back to nuclear testing in 1946, with the most recent nuclear tests by North Korea. Additionally, the region had faced two major nuclear reactor disasters: the 1986 Chernobyl incident and the 2011 TEPCO Fukushima Nuclear Power accident. The latter led to the release of long-lived fission products from nuclear reactors, primarily volatile iodine and caesium isotopes into the atmosphere. These events have raised significant concerns for the international community, particularly neighbouring countries like Malaysia. Understanding atmospheric processes is essential for assessing the potential pathways of anthropogenic radionuclide transport and its impacts. Which later can be used to devise effective monitoring and mitigation strategies. This study, part of an environmental radiological monitoring initiative, utilises data from the CTBTO database. It aims to create a comprehensive mapping of anthropogenic radionuclide concentrations, focusing on Americium-241 (241Am), Caesium-137 (137Cs), Strontium-90 (90Sr), and Plutonium isotopes (239+240Pu) fallout in the Malaysia-South China Sea region. However, according to the CTBTO database, relevant anthropogenic radionuclide detected more than three years after the Fukushima incident is 137Cs. Employing ArcGIS and CTBTO data, the study examines the influence of the Northeast and Southwest Monsoons on 137Cs concentration mapping. these findings contribute to a global understanding of radionuclide distribution, with initial results showing the presence of detected anthropogenic radionuclide 137Cs in the Malaysian environment. The 2014 pattern became a piece of preliminary evidence that the Northeast Monsoon had slightly elevated concentrations in the Malaysian environment, indicating its influence on radionuclide movement