title: Radioactivity measurements and risk assessments of spa waters in some areas in Turkey.
abstract: The current study presents the results of the activity of radionuclides in spa waters, and evaluates their radiological influences on the population consuming these waters in the Central and Eastern Black Sea regions of Turkey. Since these waters are used for therapy and consumption purposes unconsciously, their radiological impact on the people was computed by taking into consideration the annual intake through ingestion of226Ra,232Th,40K,137Cs and222Rn. The mean activities were estimated to be 11.35 for gross alpha, 6.23 for gross beta, 2.96 for226Ra, 0.42 for232Th, 0.069 for137Cs, 0.19 for40K, and 267 Bq L-1for222Rn, respectively. The estimated effective doses from spa water were found to be 49.77 µSv a-1(226Ra), 5.95 µSv a-1(232Th), 0.07 µSv a-1(137Cs), 0.83 µSv a-1(40K) and 56.03 µSv a-1(222Rn). These values were evaluated and compared with related verified values from literature. Also, physico-chemical characterizations of spa water samples considered in the current study were investigated. This study would be useful for consumers and official authorities for the assessment of radiation exposure risk due to usage of the considered spa waters.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physics , Karadeniz Technical University , Trabzon , Turkey.
authors.forename: Selcen Uzun
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Duran
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physics , Karadeniz Technical University , Trabzon , Turkey.
authors.forename: Belgin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kucukomeroglu
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physics , Batman University , Batman , Turkey.
authors.forename: Nevzat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Damla
authors.affiliation: c Cekmece Nuclear Researches and Training Center (CNAEM) , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Halim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taskin
authors.affiliation: d Department of Physics Engineering , Gumushane University , Gumushane , Turkey.
authors.forename: Necati
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physics , Karadeniz Technical University , Trabzon , Turkey.
authors.forename: Uğur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cevik
authors.affiliation: e Department of Geology , Karadeniz Technical University , Trabzon , Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ersoy
mesh_terms: D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000032:analysis*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011851:Radioactivity; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014421:Turkey; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008900:Mineral Waters; D011868:Radioisotopes; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive
keywords: Rn-222; Turkey; gross alpha and beta; ionogenic radiation exposure; radioactive nuclides; spa waters