title: A survey of natural radiation levels in soils and rocks from Aliaga-Foca region in Izmir, Turkey.
abstract: The gamma spectroscopic analysis of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K has been carried out in surface soil samples collected from Aliağa-Foça industrial region. The rock samples as parent materials of the soils are also collected and analysed for relevant radionuclides in order to evaluate the natural radiation levels. In the present study, the mean activity concentrations and ranges of the related radionuclides in the soil samples from 60 sites distributed all over the region are as follows: (226)Ra is 38 (14-123) Bq kg(-1); (232)Th, 63 (27-132) Bq kg(-1) and (40)K, 633 (141-1666) Bq kg(-1). Meanwhile, the ranges of natural radionuclide activities in the rock samples characterising the region are 41-95 Bq kg(-1) for (226)Ra, 10-122 Bq kg(-1) for (232)Th and 264-1470 Bq kg(-1) for (40)K, respectively. Based on the available data, the radiation hazard parameters associated with the surveyed soils/rocks are calculated and the results do not exceed the permissible recommended values except for soils originated from Foça rhyolites and tuffs. Furthermore, the collected data allowed for the mapping of the measured activities and corresponding gamma dose rates.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Bornova, 35100 Izmir, Turkey. fusun.cam@ege.edu.tr
authors.forename: N Füsun
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Çam
authors.forename: İbrahim
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Özken
authors.forename: Günseli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yaprak
mesh_terms: D001417:Background Radiation; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011883:Radium / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis*; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D013910:Thorium; D011883:Radium