Seasonal Variations of Radioactivity Concentrations in Soil and Sediment of Meriç River, Turkey

Abstract

In this study, natural and artificial radioactivity levels were determined for spring, summer, autumn and winter in soil and sediment samples collected from different sites in the Meriç River using a HPGe detector. The mean radioactivity levels in this study were compared with other activity concentrations in various region’s soils and sediments and also with the world mean values. The mean activity concentrations of 40K were found to be higher than the world mean value in both soil and sediment samples. In addition, 137Cs radionuclide emitted into the atmosphere by the Chernobyl explosion is still present in both soil and sediment. In order to estimate the potential health risk in samples, radiological hazard parameters were calculated for samples and compared with the recommended values.

Keywords

• soil
• sediment
• radioactivity
• Meriç River
• Gamma-ray spectrometry

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