Assessment of metal element concentrations in mussel (M. Galloprovincialis) in Eastern Black Sea, Turkey.

The main goal of this work is to determine the effects of pollution of copper, lead and zinc mines on the Eastern Black Sea. Metal and heavy metal concentrations in the Eastern Black Sea mussels were measured using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS). The analytical results showed that the tissue of mussel in Eastern Black Sea contains K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Sr elements, and the shell of mussel contains Ca, Cu, Sr, and Ba elements. Due to the detection limit of EDXRF, the mussels were analyzed with FAAS for Cr, Mn, Ni, Cd and Pb elements. An ANOVA and Pearson correlation analyses were performed. The results showed although that the mean concentrations of Cu and Zn for the tissue of the mussels were markedly above the permissible levels of the Turkish regulations, Zn concentration is in the limits of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Gross alpha and beta activities in tap waters in Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey.

Gross alpha and gross beta activities were determined for 27 different tap water samples collected from Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. The instrumentation used to count the gross alpha and gross beta activities was a alpha/beta counter of the low background multiple detector type with 10 sample detectors (Berthold LB770). The obtained results showed that natural activity concentrations of alpha- and beta-emitting radionuclides in tap water samples did not exceed WHO and ITS recommended levels. Concentrations ranging from 0.2 mBq/l to 15 mBq/l and from 25.2 mBq/l to 264.4 mBq/l were observed for the gross alpha and gross beta activities, respectively. For all samples the gross beta activities were higher than the corresponding gross alpha activities.

Natural radioactivity in tap waters of Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey.

In this study, the activity concentrations of some radionuclides in tap water samples of the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey were measured. The activity concentrations of radionuclides (214)Pb, (214)Bi, (40)K, (226)Ra and (137)Cs were determined using high resolution gamma ray spectrometry. Furthermore, (222)Rn activity concentrations in tap water samples were measured using Liquid Scintillation Counting. The mean specific activities of (214)Pb, (214)Bi, (226)Ra, (40)K, (137)Cs and (222)Rn in tap water samples were 6.73, 6, 19.16, 168.57, 5.45 mBq l(-1) and 10.82 Bq l(-1), respectively. These values are comparable with concentrations reported for other countries. The effective doses were determined due to intake of these radionuclides as a consequence of direct consumption of tap water samples. The estimated effective doses were 6.878 x 10(-4) microSv y(-1) for (214)Pb, 4.800 x 10(-4) microSv y(-1) for (214)Bi, 3.916 microSv y(-1) for (226)Ra, 0.763 microSv y(-1) for (40)K, 0.052 microSv y(-1) for (137)Cs and 5.848 microSv y(-1) for (222)Rn.

Radiation dose estimation and mass attenuation coefficients of cement samples used in Turkey.

Different cement samples commonly used in building construction in Turkey have been analyzed for natural radioactivity using gamma-ray spectrometry. The mean activity concentrations observed in the cement samples were 52, 40 and 324 Bq kg(-1) for (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K, respectively. The measured activity concentrations for these radionuclides were compared with the reported data of other countries and world average limits. The radiological hazard parameters such as radium equivalent activities (Ra(eq)), gamma index (I(gamma)) and alpha index (I(alpha)) indices as well as terrestrial absorbed dose and annual effective dose rate were calculated and compared with the international data. The Ra(eq) values of cement are lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg(-1), equivalent to a gamma dose of 1.5 mSv y(-1). Moreover, the mass attenuation coefficients were determined experimentally and calculated theoretically using XCOM in some cement samples. Also, chemical compositions analyses of the cement samples were investigated.

Assessment of natural radioactivity of sand used in Turkey.

The natural radioactivity due to the presence of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in sand samples used as building materials in Turkey was measured by gamma spectrometry. The measured activity in the sand samples ranged from 17 to 97 Bq kg(-1), 10 to 133 Bq kg(-1) and 116 to 955 Bq kg(-1) for (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K, respectively. The concentrations of these natural radionuclides were compared with the reported data for other countries. The radium equivalent activity (Ra(eq)), the external hazard index (H(ex)), the internal hazard index (H(in)), the indoor absorbed dose rate in air and the annual effective dose rate were evaluated to assess the radiation hazard for people living in dwellings made of the materials studied. The Ra(eq) values of sand samples are lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg(-1), equivalent to a gamma dose of 1.5 mSv yr(-1). This study shows that the measured sand samples do not pose any significant source of radiation hazard and are safe for use in building materials. Moreover, the experimental mass attenuation coefficients (mu/rho) of seven different sand samples were determined in the energy range 80-1332 keV photons by using the gamma ray transmission method. Experimental values of mass attenuation coefficient were compared with theoretical values obtained using the program XCOM. The calculated values and the experimental results of this work and the other results in the literature are found to be in good agreement. Chemical and structural analyses (XRD) of the sand samples were also undertaken.

Characterization of gas concrete materials used in buildings of Turkey.

The activity concentration of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in gas concrete samples collected from different suppliers and some provinces in Turkey were measured using gamma-ray spectrometry. Knowledge of radioactivity in gas concrete used in building materials enables one to assess any possible radiological risks to human health. The mean activity concentrations observed in the gas concrete samples were 82.0, 28.2 and 383.9 Bq kg(-1) for (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K, respectively. The radium equivalent activity, external and internal hazard indices as well as terrestrial absorbed dose and annual effective dose rate was calculated. The results indicate that the radium equivalent activity values of gas concrete samples are lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg(-1), equivalent to a gamma-dose of 1.5 mSv y(-1). Moreover, mass attenuation coefficients were measured in some gas concrete samples. It was found that the mass attenuation coefficients decreased with increasing photon energies. Also, chemical compositions and structural analysis (XRD and SEM) of the gas concrete samples were investigated.