The current status of natural and artificial radiation in İstanbul 36 years after chernobyl, preceding a potential nuclear threat

Abstract

In this study, the current status of natural and artificial radioactivity levels in soil samples from the B & uuml;y & uuml;k & ccedil;ekmece and Silivri districts of Istanbul, as well as the Marmara Ere & gbreve;lisi district in Tekirda & gbreve;, has been determined in anticipation of a potential nuclear leakage (e.g. the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant). Twenty soil samples were collected from the study area, and the radioactivity concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232, K-40 and Cs-137 were measured using an HPGe detector. The average concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232, K-40 and Cs-137 were found to be 26 +/- 2, 30 +/- 2, 540 +/- 29, 0.55 +/- 0.07 Bq kg(-1), respectively.