The analysis of natural radioactivity from 238U, 232Th and 40K in 357 soil samples collected from the province of Kütahya was carried out using a NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectroscopy system at the Nuclear Physics Research Laboratory, Dumlupınar University, Kütahya, Turkey. The specific activities of 238U, 232Th and 40K in the soil samples were evaluated. From the activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K, the total absorbed outdoor gamma-ray dose rates and the corresponding annual effective dose rates were determined. The corresponding values of the external and internal hazard indices of all the soil samples were also calculated. The external gamma-ray dose rate at 1 m above the ground was directly measured at each collected soil sample location. The results obtained in this study were compared within the limits of values obtained in other cities of Turkey, those in other countries. Radiological maps of Kütahya Province were constructed from the results of this study.
Keywords: Cosmic radiation; gamma spectrometry; natural radioactivity; radioactive nuclides; radiological hazard; soil pollution; terrestrial radiation.