A survey of natural radiation levels in soils and rocks from Aliaga-Foça region in Izmir, Turkey

PubMed ID: 23222553The gamma spectroscopic analysis of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K has been carried out in surface soil samples collected from Aliaga-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: 226Ra is 38 (14-123) Bq kg-1; 232Th, 63 (27-132) Bq kg-1 and 40K, 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 226Ra, 10-122 Bq kg-1 for 232Th and 264-1470 Bq kg-1 for 40K, 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. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved