Terrestrial gamma exposure in the granodiorite area of Bergama (Pergamon)-Kozak, Turkey

WOS: 000290040000039As higher radiation levels are associated with granite and Bergama (Pergamon) has increasingly become a large market for granite use over the last years, an extensive investigation was started in 2009. Samples from the granites and soils underlying this area were collected and analyzed by HPGe gamma spectrometry system. The specific activities of the naturally occurring radionuclides Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 were found to be in the range of 29-111 Bq kg(-1) for Ra-226, 35-87 Bq kg(-1) for Th-232 and 698-1100 Bq kg(-1) for K-40 in granite samples. The ranges of Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 activity concentrations for soils were 32-82, 42-88 and 667-1127 Bq kg(-1), respectively. From these data radiological parameters were calculated and compared with respective data from the UNSCEAR reports.Dokuz Eylul UniversityDokuz Eylul University [2009.KB.FEN.039]Grateful thanks are offered to the provider of financial support for the research presented here: Dokuz Eylul University Scientific Research Project (Project no: 2009.KB.FEN.039). The authors also would like to thank graduate and undergraduate students; Mrs. Ipek Emen, Mr. Sadi Deniz Kayhan and Mr. Onur Buyukok for assisting in sample collection, preparation of granites and soils

Indoor radon measurements in the granodiorite area of Bergama (Pergamon)-Kozak, Turkey

WOS: 000302299800007PubMed ID: 21636559Indoor radon levels in 20 dwellings of rural areas at the Kozak-Bergama (Pergamon) granodiorite area in Turkey were measured by the alpha track etch integrated method. These dwellings were monitored for eight successive months. Results show that the radon levels varied widely in the area ranging from 111 to 72711 Bq m(3) and the geometric mean was found to be 63 Bq m(3) with a geometric standard deviation of 2 Bq m(3). A lognormal distribution of the radon concentration was obtained for the studied area. Estimated annual effective doses due to the indoor radon ranged from 0.27 to 18.34 mSv y(1) with a mean value of 1.95 mSv y(1), which is lower than the effective dose values 310 mSv given as the range of action levels recommended by International Commission on Radiation Protection. All dosimetric calculations were performed based on the guidance of the UNSCEAR 2000 report.Dokuz Eylul UniversityDokuz Eylul University [2009.KB.FEN.039]This work was supported by Dokuz Eylul University Scientific Research Project (Project no: 2009.KB.FEN.039)

Persistence of Cs-137 in the litter layers of forest soil horizons of Mount IDA/Kazdagi, Turkey

WOS: 000347596000013PubMed ID: 25464048In 2010-2012, an extensive study was performed in forest sites of Mount IDA (Kazdagi)/Edremit 26 years after the Chernobyl accident. The Cs-137 activity concentrations were determined by gamma-ray spectrometry in the forest soil layers (O-L, O-F + O-H and A horizons) separately. Based on 341 surface soil samples and 118 soil profiles, activity concentrations of 137Cs in O-L horizons varied between 0.25 +/- 0.14 and 70 +/- 1 Bq kg(-1), while the ranges of Cs-137 activity concentrations in O-F + O-H and A horizons were 13 +/- 1-555 +/- 3 Bq kg(-1) and 2 +/- 1-253 +/- 2 Bq kg(-1), respectively. Cesium-137 deposition in the study area was estimated to be in the range of 1-39 kBq m(-2) and a linear relationship between the deposition of Cs-137 and the altitude was observed. The distributions of Cs-137 activities in O-L, O-F + O-H and A horizons throughout the region were mapped in detail. The highest Cs-137 activities were found in O-F + O-H horizons, with markedly lower Cs-137 activity in mineral horizons of soil profiles. It is observed that Cs-137 content of humus layer increases with the thickness of the humus layer for coniferous forest sites. The Cs-137 activity concentrations were higher than the recommended screening limits (150 Bq kg(-1)) at some of the investigated areas. The current activity concentration of top soil layers indicates that over many years since the initial deposition, Cs-137 activity is keeping still high in the organic horizons. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [109Y336]Grateful thanks are offered to the provider of financial support for the research presented here: The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) (Project no: 109Y336). The authors are also grateful to Prof. Dr. Gunseli Yaprak for professional advice on several aspects of the Gamma spectroscopy, to Mr. Nivazi Ozcankaya for his careful assistance in preparation of forest vegetation map of Kazdagi and to Mr. Huseyin Atay and Ms. Sabiha Vurmaz for assisting in sample collection, preparation of soils