ANALYSIS OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY LEVELS IN SOIL SAMPLES AND DOSE ASSESSMENT FOR DIGOR DISTRICT, KARS, TURKEY

Year 2018, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 30 - 39, 25.07.2018

Gülçin Bilgici Cengiz (eker) Ebru Öztanrıöver

Abstract

The distribution of natural radioactivity in soils
collected from uncultivated areas in Digor districts of Kars was investigated
by using NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectrometry. The concentration of the natural radio
nuclides ²²⁶Ra ²³²Th,⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs
in the 55 soil samples from the studied areas range from 21.6±7.0 to 55.7±8.2
Bqkg^-1, 45.0±14.7 to 94.7±15.3  Bqkg^-1, 474.5±0.0 to 666.5±9.2 Bqkg^-1
and BDL to 13.3±1.5 Bqkg^-1, respectively. The determined mean values
of activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K
were used to calculate the radiation hazard indices in soil samples. In the studied area, the
radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq) varied from 131.3 to 195.1 Bqkg^-1
with the mean value of 171.5 Bqkg^-1 and  the open air absorbed gamma dose rate (ADR)
varied from 61.7 to 88.0 nGyh^-1 with the mean value of 79.0 nGyh^-1.
The annual effective air dose rate (AED) due to the presence of radionuclides
ranged between 75.7 and 107.9 µSv with the average value of 96.8 µSv. The mean
value of risk for cancer formation (LCR) during an average human lifetime was
determined to be 0.34x10^-3. The results presented in this study,
Turkey has been compared with the average values of similar studies conducted
in different regions of the world. The results of the study may constitute a
reference for future assessments.

Keywords

Soil, natural radioactivity concentration, gamma ray spectrometry, .dose assessment.

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