The Origin of the Gross Alpha and Beta Radiation Values of the Waters of Çanakkale Strait (Çanakkale/Turkey)

This study is an evaluation of radioactivity the waters of the Çanakkale Strait. The gross alpha- and gross beta-radioactivity counts (Berthold, LB770-PC 10-Channel Low-Level Planchet Counter) were calculated for seawater samples taken from eight different regions of the Çanakkale Strait (Şevketiye, Seddülbahir, Lapseki, Kumkale, Burhanlı, Dereliman, Eceabat, and Gelibolu). In the samples, the gross alpha-radiation ranged between 0.064 and 0.046Bq/L and the gross beta-radiation ranged between 14.325 and 10.532 Bq/L. The highest gross alpharadiation concentration was measured at Gelibolu (0.064 Bq/L) while the lowest (0.046 Bq/L) was measured at Şevketiye. The highest value for gross beta-radiation concentration (14.325 Bq/L) was measured in Seddülbahir, and the lowest value (10.532 Bq/L) was measured in Dereliman. The gross alpha-radiation concentrations measured by the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority in Çanakkale’s drinking and utility water ranged between 0.05 and 0.400 Bq/L, and the highest values (0.300 to 0.400Bq/L) were found in the Ezine county. Gross beta-radiation concentrations ranged from 0.05 to 0.500 Bq/L, and the highest values (from 0.400 to 0.500 Bq/L) were recorded in Lapseki province. The gross beta-radiation concentrations in both the sample results and TAEK data were determined to be high in Lapseki and its vicinity. Comparing the mean gross beta- and alpha-radiation concentration values of the Çanakkale Strait with the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, beta-radiation values in the study area were very high. Gross alpha-radiation results were low in the study area compared to other regions. Evaluating the results against the legal limit threshold, the results were above the legal limit for gross beta-radiation. This result indicates that the water is affected by the rocks through which it passe

Radionuclide potential of holocene sediments in the west of marmara sea (Turkey)

Radionuclides that cause radioactive pollution descend to the bottom in marine and water environments such as heavy metals and accumulate in bottom sediments. It is useful to determine the radionuclides in these environments to control the radionuclide release and its damage. Radioactive pollution can harm people’s life directly or through the food chain. In this study, natural and artificial radionuclide values were measured in Recent sediment samples taken from the seabed in the western part of the Marmara Sea. Gamma spectrometry method was used in radionuclide examinations. In gamma spectrometry studies of sediments, values of radionuclides (40K,137Cs,226Ra,54Mn,95Z, and232Th) were determined. Sea depths where 18 analyzed seafloor sediments are taken vary between 15-50 m. The determined radionuclide concentration activity values of the study area are137Cs (0.9-9.4 (Bq / kg)),232Th (18.9-86 (Bq / kg)),226Ra (10-50 (Bq / kg)),40K (24.4-670 (Bq / kg)),54Mn (0.71-0.9 (Bq / kg)) and95Zr (0.18-0.19 (Bq / kg)). These values were correlated with the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). The226Ra series,232Th series, and 40K radionuclides accumulate naturally, and their concentrations increase gradually due to anthropogenic impurities.226Ra values obtained across the study areas are within normal limits according to UNSCEAR values.40K and232Th values were higher than UNSCEAR values in all locations. 137 Cs (0.9-9.4 (Bq / kg)) from almost all locations reveals a risky situation in terms of ambient conditions because this element cannot be found in the natural environment and can be found artificially as an end of radioactivity. © 2020, Turkish Chemical Society. All rights reserved

Geographical Distribution of Toxic Elements in Northeast Marmara Sea Sediments and Analysis of Toxic Element Pollution By Various Pollution Index Methods (Istanbul/Turkey)

In this study, the geographic distribution of toxic element concentrations was determined in Northeast Marmara Sea (Istanbul/Turkey) sediments. In addition, the pollution degree of the environment was analyzed using various pollution index methods. Geochemical analysis of 28 elements were performed in sediment samples. The concentrations of several elements (especially Fe, Mn, Ti, Zn, and Cr) were found to be very high in some locations. At sites, where heavy metal concentrations were high, foraminifera genera and species numbers and number of individuals were very low. The low number of foraminifera in the samples taken from some regions could be due to uncontrolled ship traffic and domestic and industrial discharges.Yildiz Technical University Scientific Research Projects CommissionYildiz Technical University [FBA-2018-3351]The author thanks FORMKAR Ltd. Sti for their studies on drilling and core sampling and Melike ONCE for the preparation of the samples in the laboratory and also for the separation studies of other fossils. The author also thanks Yildiz Technical University Scientific Research Projects Commission for accepting and financing this study (Project no: FBA-2018-3351)

Gamma Dose Values of Stratigraphic Units of Behramkale (Çanakkale) - Zeytinli (Edremit-Balikesir) Section of Kaz Mountains

In this study, gamma dose values were measured at 25 locations around a distance of 60 km parallel to the Aegean Sea in Güre, Küçükkuyu and Kazdağı regions. These measurements were made by keeping the Eberline Smart Portable (ESP) scintillator detector constant at a height of 1 meter above ground level. A SPA-6 plastic scintillation sensor is connected to the instrument tip to perform the measurement. These devices are direct measurement of external radiation. As the measurements were carried out in the open area, 0.2 occupancy factor was used in the calculations. In the studies, the highest effective dose value was calculated as 0.3 mSv at the location 2 (Asos Kadırga Bay). The lowest effective dose value is 0.054 mSV at the 15th location (Avcılar Village Mountain slope) and the average annual gamma dose is 0.14 mSv. For the study area, when the lifetime risk of cancer was calculated using gamma effective dose values, it was determined at the highest 2. locations (0.0012) and the lowest at the 15th locations (0,21x10-3). The average lifetime cancer risk value (2,39x10-4) of Turkey, were compared with values calculated in this study. In this comparison, the gamma dose values of locations 9 and 15 were lower and the values of other locations were higher. © 2020, Turkish Chemical Society. All rights reserved

Investigation of Sediment Records of Kulakçayiri Lake (Istanbul)

In this study, the date of the Holocene sediments of Kulakçayırı Lake was determined and the sedimentation rates were calculated. The determined sedimentation rates provide important clues about the climatic and ecological characteristics of the study area. Especially in aquatic environments, it is important to date sediment processes in order to monitor the time-dependent changes in the pollution processes of sediments. In this context, radiocarbon (14C) analysis was performed in order to date the sediments. Liquid scintillation spectrometry was used to find the radioactivity of the 14C isotope. Three drilling samples were taken from the study area (Kulakçayırı Lake / Istanbul) for 14C analysis. According to the results of 14C analysis of the samples taken; Sediment deposition in SK-1 sample took place in 5599 years, in SK-2 in 7596 years and in SK-3 in 8060 years. Sedimentation rates are; SK-1> SK-2> SK-3. From the data obtained, it was observed that the sedimentation rate has different rates at different points of the lake. There is no stream bringing material to the lake. Therefore, it can be said that a slow storage dominates the lake in general

Gebze (Kocaeli / Türkiye) Bölgesinde Maruz Kalınan Gama Doz Değerleri ve Kanser Riskinin Değerlendirilmesi

By this study, it is focused to assessment of inhalation quality for Kocaeli province especially Northeast side of Marmara Sea (Gebze county and its territory). In this case, radioactivity analysis in air was realized via air dose rate measurements around this region which is so closed neighbor to big city Istanbul. By measuring of the outdoor gamma dose rates on 35 stations, it was possible to get the average dose rate. Then it was calculated to annual dose in air. Besides, cancer risk was determined for Kocaeli. All these values were compared with the World’s references (UNSCEAR) and reported finally. It was measured the average dose rate as 23.90 $nGyhr^{-1}$ and annual dose was calculated to 29.31 ?Sv. This dose is required to excess lifetime cancer risk as 1.02x$10^{?4}$ . These values could be compared to the similar studies which existed around the world. Finally, the average annual effective dose equivalent and excess lifetime cancer risk for Kocaeli, are less than the world average. This study would be used to a reference for further investigations, besides it will be usefull to compare with different studies for Kocaeli which, will be evaluated in the future, for example after a nuclear pollution, such as based on a reactor leakage comes from Black Sea region and neighbours, nuclear attacks, etc., too. Another benefit would be made to enlarge to find this kind of studies in literature.Bu çalışmada Kocaeli ili, özellikle Marmara Denizi’nin kuzeydoğu tarafı (Gebze ili ve çevresi) gama doz değerleri ile kanser risk değerleri araştırılmıştır. Açık havadaki radyoaktivite analizleri, İstanbul’a yakın olan bu bölge için gama doz hızı ölçümleri ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışma alanında 35 bölgede dış ortam gama doz oranları ölçülerek ortalama doz oranı elde etmek mümkün olmuştur. Daha sonra yıllık gama doz değerleri hesaplanmıştır. Ayrıca bu değerler kullanılarak kanser risk değerleri elde edilmiştir. Tüm bu değerler Dünya Referans değerleri (UNSCEAR) ile karşılaştırılmıştır. Analiz sonucunda ortalama gama doz hızı 23.90 $nGyhr^{-1}$ , yıllık doz hızı ise 29.31 ?Sv. Yaşam boyu kanser risk değeri 1.02x$10^{?4}$ olarak hesaplanmıştır. Bu değerler, dünya çapında var olan benzer çalışmalarla karşılaştırılabilir. Sonuç olarak, Kocaeli için ortalama yıllık etkin doz değeri ve yaşam boyu kanser riski değeri dünya ortalamasının altındadır. Bu çalışma, ileride yapılacak araştırmalar için referans olarak kullanılacağı gibi, ileride Kocaeli için farklı çalışmalarla karşılaştırılmasında faydalı olacaktır, örneğin bir nükleer kirlilikten sonra örneğin Karadeniz’den gelen reaktör sızıntısı gibi

Processing of nano boron carbide reinforced flexible polymer composites with improved shielding properties

Aims: The main objective of the current research is to develop light-weight and flexible electromagnetic shielding materials with improved properties using nano/mikro boron carbide dispersed into polymer based matrices after surface modification. Methods: Nano/micro boron carbide particles with various morphologies were synthesized by sol-gel techniques and the obtained particles were surface modified with different functional groups. After mixing the particles with different polymers using high shear mixer, shielding composite plates were shaped using injection moulding and warm pressing. Results: It was shown that sol-gel technique was able to produce boron carbide particles with controlled morphology and better shielding properties could be obtained using these particles within polymeric matrices leading to the formation of flexible composites. Conclusions: Overall, it was found that light-weight and effective shielding materials could be obtained using boron carbide particles dispersed within polymeric matrices. Surface modification of the particles is critical for good dispersion and hence to get better final properties. The concentration of the reinforcing particles also affects the properties in terms of energy absorption and shielding