Philippine Journal of Science
150 (1): 245-256, February 2021
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 27 Jul 2020

Determination of Photon Shielding Parameters
for Soils in Mangrove Forests

Frederick C. Hila^1,2*, Gerald P. Dicen², Abigaile Mia V. Javier-Hila²,
Alvie Asuncion-Astronomo², Neil Raymund D. Guillermo², Roland V. Rallos²,
Ian A. Navarrete^3,4, and Alberto V. Amorsolo Jr.⁵

¹Materials Science and Engineering Program, College of Engineering
University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Metro Manila, Philippines
²Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) Commonwealth Avenue,
Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Metro Manila, Philippines
³Department of Environmental Science, School of Science and Engineering
Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights,
Quezon City 1108 Metro Manila, Philippines
⁴Department of Environmental Science, Southern Leyte State University
Hinunangan Campus 6608 Southern Leyte, Philippines
⁵Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering,
College of Engineering University of the Philippines Diliman,
Quezon City 1101 Metro Manila, Philippines

*Corresponding author: fchila@pnri.dost.gov.ph

ABSTRACT

The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), effective atomic number (Zeff), and effective electron density (Neff) values of soils in mangrove forests across the Philippine islands were investigated. In addition, ENDF/B-VI.8 cross-section data library was used for interpolating Zeff and Neff values. Photon energies considered in this study ranged from 59.5–1332 keV. MAC values were obtained using MCNP5 and PHITS Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and were found to be in good agreement with XCOM and values in literature. Results for Zeff were in good agreement with values obtained using Phy-X/ZeXTRa program. Each shielding parameter was investigated as a function of SiO2 concentrations.