Distribution of natural radioactivity and assessment of radioactive dose of Western Anatolian plutons, Turkey

Papadopoulos A., Altunkaynak Ş., Koroneos A., UNAL A., KAMACI Ö.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES, vol.25, no.5, pp.434-455, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 25 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.3906/yer-1605-4
  • Journal Name: TURKISH JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.434-455
  • Keywords: Building materials, Western Anatolia, granitic plutons, external-internal exposure, uranium, thorium, radiation index, GAMMA-RADIATION MEASUREMENTS, METAMORPHIC CORE COMPLEX, BUILDING-MATERIALS, RADON EXHALATION, MAGMA GENESIS, EVOLUTION, RADIONUCLIDES, GEOCHEMISTRY, GRANITOIDS, VOLCANISM
  • Istanbul Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The distribution of Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 in 70 granite samples obtained from 13 Western Anatolian plutons (Turkey) was measured by using.-ray spectroscopy. The activities of the measured radionuclides varied up to 259 Bq kg(-1) for Ra-226, up to 241 Bq kg(-1) for Th-232, and up to 2518 Bq kg(-1) for K-40, with mean values of 66 (+/- 44), 90 (+/- 47), and 1097 (+/- 410) Bq kg(-1), respectively, which are smaller than the mean values given for granites worldwide. The mean value of the increase on the external.-radiation effective dose rate is 0.21 (+/- 0.09) mSv year(-1), varying by <1 mSv year(-1). The mean value of the internal a-radiation was 0.15 (+/- 0.10) mSv year(-1), varying <0.5 mSv year(-1). Most of the samples cause an increase to both the external and internal dose by <30%, which is smaller than the permitted limit. Therefore, there is no radiological risk from the usage of the samples studied as decorative and ornamental building materials.