Assessment of natural radioactivity level of soil and water in the region of corlu (Turkey)

The activity concentrations of Rn-222 with an AlphaGUARD system in well having different depths and in natural spring waters were measured to assess the natural radioactivity level of the corlu region. The measured concentrations varied from 22.04 to 63.92 Bq L-1 for 6 well water samples, 15.38-24.33 Bq L-1 for 6 spring water samples. The activity concentrations from U-238, Th-232 and K-40 in 11 soil samples collected from the same region were also determined and the outdoor gamma dose rates at 1 m above the surface at the same sampling points were measured. The results obtained in this study lie within safe limits recommended by WHO and UNSCEAR with the exception of the mean specific activity of K-40 radionuclide.

Automated summary

By measuring the activity concentrations of Rn-222 in well waters and natural spring waters in the Corlu region, as well as the activity concentrations of U-238, Th-232, and K-40 in soil samples, it was found that most of the results were within the safe limits recommended by the WHO and UNSCEAR, except for the slightly higher mean specific activity of K-40 radionuclide.