Measurement of Natural Radioactivity in Beach Sand of Akkuyu Mersin, Turkey

Abstract

Distribution of natural radionuclide gamma rays produced by ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra and ⁴⁰K, were determined for the sand collected along the cost of Mersin in Akkuyu. Gamma radiation in beach sand samples collected from Akkuyu nuclear power plant region has been measured by NaI(Tl) gamma ray spectrometer. Gamma spectrometer has been calibrated with IAEA reference set which were RGK, RGU and RGTH. The radioactivity concentration of were calculated and expressed in Bqkg^-1. The source of  cause for the total doses of beach sand was formed due to three primordial radionuclide which were ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra and ⁴⁰K. The activity of radionuclide were between 3.96-17.18, 15.82-39.48 and 133.54-287.06Bqkg^-1 respectively. Radiological hazard, radium equivalent, external hazard and total dose rate were also calculated. Results were discussed with UNCEAR reports.

Keywords: Natural Radioactivity, Sand, Gamma-Ray Spectrometry, Dose Rate, Akkuyu