Determination of terrestrial radiation level and radiological parameters of soil samples from Sariyer-Istanbul in Turkey

Abstract

Radiation directly or indirectly affects human health. So, it is significant to work out the concentration of environmental radioactivity. The natural terrestrial radiation concentration level consists of Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 concentrations. In this study, natural terrestrial radioactivity concentrations were examined in Sariyer district of Istanbul. Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 concentrations were determined using a high-purity germanium detector (HPGe). The soil samples were collected from 18 different points within the boundaries of Sariyer district. The mean Ra-226 and Th-232 concentrations in this study were 30.78 +/- 2.26 Bq kg(-1) and 45.57 +/- 3.99 Bq kg(-1) respectively. K-40 concentrations were calculated as 863.70 +/- 48.70 Bq kg(-1). Also, radiological parameters were calculated and compared with limit value of world average.