Determination of Natural Radioactivity Concentrations of Some Fertilizers Used in Eastern Anatolia of Turkey

Abstract

In the present work, the specific activities of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K radionuclides in six different kinds of commonly used fertilizers in Eastern Anatolia of Turkey were measured by NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectrometry system. The results of measurements showed that the mean (ranges) of specific activities for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in several fertilizers samples are 19.6 (3.9 - 32.9), 30.3 (11.4- 39.9) and 664.6 (42.6 - 3481.8) Bq kg^-1, respectively. Average values of the natural radionuclides measured in the fertilizers used in Turkey are within the range of values reported in several other countries. This study may be useful as basic data for determining the level of radiation exposure of the population due to the regular agricultural use of chemical fertilizers.

Keywords

• Environmental radioactivity,gamma spectrometer,chemical fertilizers

DOĞU ANADOLU'DA KULLANILAN BAZI GÜBRELERİN DOĞAL RADYOAKTİVİTE KONSANTRASYONLARININ BELİRLENMESİ

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, Türkiye'nin Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi'nde yaygın olarak kullanılan altı farklı gübre çeşidindeki ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th ve ⁴⁰K radyonüklidlerin spesifik aktiviteleri, NaI (Tl) gama ışını spektrometre sistemi ile ölçülmüştür. Ölçüm sonuçları, çeşitli gübre örneklerdeki ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th ve ⁴⁰K için spesifik aktivitelerin ortalamalarının (aralıklarının) sırasıyla 19.6 (3.9 - 32.9), 30.3 (11.4-39.9) ve 664.6 (42.6 - 3481.8) Bq kg^-1 olduğunu göstermiştir. Türkiye'de kullanılan gübrelerde ölçülen doğal radyonüklidlerin ortalama değerleri, diğer bazı ülkelerde bildirilen değerler arasındadır. Bu çalışma, kimyasal gübrelerin düzenli tarımsal kullanımına bağlı olarak, halkın radyasyona maruz kalma seviyesinin belirlenmesi için temel veriler olarak faydalı olabilir.

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