Evaluation of natural radioactivity in soils of Konya (Turkey) and estimation of radiological health hazards

Abstract

Surface soil samples were collected from Konya, Turkey and natural activity concentrations were determined using the ɤ-ray spectroscopy system with HPGe detector. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were found to vary from 14.07 +/- 0.71 Bq kg-1 dw to 67.27 +/- 1.62 Bq kg-1 dw, 10.19 +/- 2.60 Bq kg-1 dw to 46.09 +/- 0.76 Bq kg-1 dw and 107.87 +/- 13.32 Bq kg-1 dw to 605.95 +/- 11.34 Bq kg-1 dry weight (dw), respectively. The radiological hazard parameters such as Raeq, D, AEDE, ELCR, AGDE, Hex, Hin, and I ɤ evaluated the radiological risk for the public and environment. The mean values of D, AEDE and ELCR are lower than the world average value of 57 nGy h-1, 70 mu Sv y-1, 0.29 x 10-3 respectively. The activity concentration distribution maps of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K and the radiological maps of the radiological hazard parameters were plotted using the Surfer programme. Cluster analysis was carried out to indicate the similarity between the variables.