DETERMINATION OF RA-226, TH-232, K-40 AND CS-137 ACTIVITIES IN SOILS AND BEACH SANDS AND RELATED EXTERNAL GAMMA DOSES IN ARIKLI MINERALIZATION AREA (AYVACIK/TURKEY)

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2021 May 17;193(3-4):137-154. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncab035.

Abstract

Uranium mineralization areas may jeopardize public health and surrounding natural life. In the current study for radioactivity and geochemical analyses, 43 soil, 5 rock and 10 beach sand samples were collected in and around Arıklı (Ayvacık, Turkey) uranium mineralization area. Radioactivity levels in the soils (up to Ra-226: 629, Th-232: 240, K-40: 3669 Bq/kg) were found higher than the that of beach sands. Besides, radioactivity of the beach sand samples is found at normal levels (avg: Ra-226: 31, Th-232: 31, K-40: 542 Bq/kg) when compared to worldwide average soil. Dose values indicate that the region have ~three times higher average gamma radioactivity than the corresponding world average although measured gamma doses ranged up to 687 nGy/h. The high measured values are related to uranium mineralization, alteration zones, faults and Arıklı tuff.

MeSH terms

  • Cesium Radioisotopes / analysis
  • Potassium Radioisotopes / analysis
  • Radiation Monitoring*
  • Radium* / analysis
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants, Radioactive* / analysis
  • Spectrometry, Gamma
  • Thorium / analysis
  • Turkey

Substances

  • Cesium Radioisotopes
  • Potassium Radioisotopes
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants, Radioactive
  • Cesium-137
  • Thorium
  • Radium-226
  • Radium