Radiochemical characterization of mineral waters in the Eastern Black Sea Region, Turkey

This study has evaluated the levels of natural radionuclides and chemical components of mineral waters in the Eastern Black Sea Region (Turkey). The mean activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th, (137)Cs, (40)K, gross alpha and gross beta were found as 129, 33, 28, 714, 125 and 170 mBq L (-aEuro parts per thousand 1), respectively. Due to consumption of mineral waters, the radiological impact of them on the inhabitants was calculated by taking the annual intake into account through ingestion of aforementioned radionuclides. The estimated effective doses from mineral water were found to be 13.20 mu Sv year (-aEuro parts per thousand 1) ((226)Ra), 2.74 mu Sv year (-aEuro parts per thousand 1) ((232)Th), 0.13 mu Sv year (-aEuro parts per thousand 1) ((137)Cs) and 1.62 mu Sv year (-aEuro parts per thousand 1) ((40)K). The overall contribution of these radionuclides to the committed effective dose from a year's consumption of mineral water in the region is therefore estimated to be only 17.69%, which is in concordance with the recommended WHO value (100 mu Sv year (-aEuro parts per thousand 1)). The chemical analysis results showed that these waters contain Na, Al, P, Cl, K, Ca, V, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn elements. These values were evaluated and compared with the internationally verified values. This study provides important information for consumers and authorities because of their internal radiochemical exposure risk from mineral water intake.Karadeniz Teknik University 2008.111.01.

Yeni medyanın toplumsal yansımaları

Yeni medya, hayatımızın her alanında etkisini gösteren ve değiştiren bir olgu haline gelmiştir. Günümüzde insanlar, haberlerini, bilgilerini ve iletişimlerini yeni medya araçları aracılığıyla alıp vermektedirler. Bu araçlar, çok çeşitli işlevleri yerine getirerek kullanıcılarına hız, çeşitlilik, çok seslilik, derinlik, yeni katmanlar, kolaylıklar ve çeşitli seviyelerde iletişim imkanları sunmaktadır. Ancak bu avantajların yanı sıra, yeni medya araçları beraberinde çeşitli sorunları da getirmektedir. Özellikle sosyal medya platformları, kişisel bilgilerin paylaşımı, zorbalık, nefret söylemi ve özel hayatın ihlali gibi güvenlik sorunlarını da beraberinde getirmektedir. Bunun yanı sıra, sosyal medya üzerinden yayılan yanlış bilgiler, manipülasyon ve sahte haberler, hakikatin Önemsizleşmesi gibi sorunları da ortaya çıkarmaktadır..

Mapping of indoor radon survey and dose estimations in health centres in Turkey

Radon and its short-lived daughter products, leading to lung cancer, are the most significant contribution to the exposure of man to ionizing radiation from natural sources. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess indoor radon measurements in 39 rooms of 15 health centres in Osmaniye city, Turkey using CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors based on radon dosimeters. Indoor radon concentrations were found to change from 8 to 108 Bqm3 . The associated radiological parameters such as the annual effective dose and excess lifetime cancer risk were computed for staff/patient in the rooms surveyed. The mean annual effective dose and excess lifetime cancer risk values were estimated to be 0.29 mSv and 1.02 103 , respectively. The annual computed effective doses are lower than the suggested action level (3–10 mSvy1 ). Also, with ordinary Kriging method, by using R programing language and quantum geographic information system, indoor radon concentration, annual effective dose, and excess lifetime cancer risk interpolated values were recorded and mapped. The findings obtained in the current study concerning radon levels and their variations will provide baseline values for future research surveys

Dual Band PIFA Design For Biomedical Applications

In this study, numerical and experimental analysis of a dual band (Medical Implant Communications Service-MICS; 402-405 MHz, Industrial, Scientific and Medical-ISM; 2.4-2.48 GHz) implantable antenna design for biomedical applications are presented. The proposed antenna is in the type of stacked Planar Inverted-F Antenna (PIFA) covered with a superstrate. The antenna has a size of 2 cm x 1 cm x 3.81 mm. Numerical analysis of the implant antenna is carried out using High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) software. The proposed antenna is fabricated and in vitro tested in skin phantom. It is shown that the antenna resonates at 403.5 MHz with a reflection coefficient of -23 dB, and a 10-dB bandwidth of 56 MHz, which covers the MICS band, moreover, it resonates at 2.45 GHz with a reflection coefficient of -22 dB, and a 10-dB bandwidth of 200 MHz, which covers the ISM band. The maximum simulated gain is found as -33 dBi and -13 dBi for MICS and ISM bands, respectively. Communication link measurements are performed using commercially available Microsemi-Zarlink Application Development Kit for Medical Telemetry (ZLE70102) in order to check the functioning of the proposed antenna. Designed antenna is inserted into the MICS band phantom and it is achieved to wake-up base station module at ISM band and to send data at the MICS band in 4 meter range

A dual band antenna design for implantable medical devices

In this study, design and the numerical analysis of a dual band (MICS (Medical Implant Communications Service; 402-405MHz) and ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical; 2.4-2.48GHz)) implantable antenna which is planned to be inserted in the header of the medical device is presented. The proposed medical implantable antenna (MIA) is in the type of planar inverted F Antenna (PIFA). For miniaturization, the metallic patch of the antenna is meandered and a shorting-pin is used between the patch and ground plane. Numerical analysis of the implant antenna is carried out using HFSS (High Frequency Structure Simulator) software. It is showed that return losses in the MICS and ISM band is lower than -10 dB and the gain of the antenna is consistent with the gain characteristics of the microstrip antennas

Radioactive contamination in lichens collected from Trabzon and Rize in the Eastern Black Sea Region, Turkey, and a comparison with that of 1995

Apaydin, Gokhan/0000-0002-4647-344XWOS: 000257317400019PubMed: 18496632After the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986, 14 lichen specimens collected from Trabzon and Rize in 1995 were used to detect the amount of the fallout radionuclides. In this paper, radioactivity levels in the same species from the same localities were re-detected to compare with those of 1995. According to the results of the two studies, the radioactivity levels that this paper found for 137 Cs and 40 K are significantly lower than those of 1995 ( about 5.5 - 127 folds for Cs-137, 5-17 folds for (40) K). The level of Pb-212 was acceptably small. The highest activities of the lichen species are seen in the locality of Helvaci ( Trabzon, 100 m) and Camlihemsin ( Rize, 1850 m) while the activities are medium in Bozdogan ( Trabzon, 150 m), Kemaliye ( Trabzon, 750 m) and Camlihems, in ( Rize, 900 m). The activity values generally increase significantly depending on the altitudes. Since the measurements were performed 20 years after the Chernobyl accident in 1986, radionuclides of 134 Cs having short half-life ( 2.062 y) have not been detected. All data was obtained with a coaxial high purity Ge detector of 15% relative efficiency and resolution 1.9 keV at the 1332 keV gamma of (60) Co ( Canberra, GC 1519 model)

Radiological characterization around the Afsin-Elbistan coal-fired power plant in Turkey

KAYA, SELIM/0000-0001-7477-3522WOS: 000252434700062A radiological characterization of soil samples around the Afsin-Elbistan coal-fired thermal power plant in the Mediterranean region of Turkey was carried out. Moreover, activity concentrations and chemical analyses of coal samples used in this power plant and fly ash and slag samples originating from coal combustion were measured. For this purpose, coal, fly ash, slag, and soil samples were collected from this region. The analysis shows that the samples include relevant natural radionuclides such as Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40. The mean activity concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 were 167, 44, and 404 Bq.kg(-1), respectively. Obtained values shows that the average radium equivalent activity, air-absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose, and external hazard index for all samples are 258 Bq.kg(-1), 121 nGy.h(-1), 148 mu Sv.y(-1), and 0.7, respectively. The environmental effect of natural radionuclides caused by coal-fired power plants was considered to be negligible because the Ra-eq values of the measured samples are generally lower than the limit value of 370 Bq.kg(-1), equivalent to a gamma dose of 1.5 mSv.y(-1). A comparison of the concentrations obtained in this work with other parts of the world indicates that the radioactivity content of the samples is not significantly different

Radioactivity and heavy metal levels in hazelnut growing in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey

Coskuncelebi, Kamil/0000-0001-5713-6628;WOS: 000269432000027PubMed: 19549551The Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey is one of the main hazelnut producers in Turkey and in the world. Since this region was contaminated by the Chernobyl accident in 1986, a comprehensive study was planned and carried out to determine the radioactivity level in hazelnut growing region. The dose due to consumption of hazelnut by the public was estimated and it was shown that this dose imposes no threat to human health. In addition, heavy metal analysis was performed in the samples and the amount of Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb were also detected. The results showed that the concentrations of heavy metal are below the daily intake recommended by the international organizations. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Calculation of radiation attenuation coefficients, effective atomic numbers and electron densities for some building materials

WOS: 000306646100019PubMed: 22128356Some building materials, regularly used in Turkey, such as sand, cement, gas concrete (lightweight, aerated concrete), tile and brick, have been investigated in terms of mass attenuation coefficient (mu/(rho)), effective atomic, numbers (Z(eff)), effective electron densities (N-e) and photon interaction cross section (sigma(a)) at 14 different energies from 81- to 1332-keV gamma-ray energies. The gamma rays were detected by using gamma-ray spectroscopy, a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. The elemental compositions of samples were analysed using an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Mass attenuation coefficients of these samples have been compared with tabulations based upon the results of WinXcom. The theoretical mass attenuation coefficients were estimated using the mixture rule and the experimental values of investigated parameters were compared with the calculated values. The agreement of measured values of mass attenuation coefficient, effective atomic numbers, effective electron densities and photon interaction cross section with the theory has been found to be quite satisfactory