A. Celik

Determination of indoor radon and soil radioactivity levels in Giresun, Turkey

Indoor radon survey and gamma activity measurements in soil samples were carried out in the Giresun province (Northeastern Turkey). The result of analysis of variance showed a relationship between indoor radon and radium content in soil (R(2)=0.54). It was found that indoor radon activity concentration ranged from 52 to 360 Bq m(-3) with an average value of 130 Bq m(-3). A model built by BEIR VI was used to predict the number of lung cancer deaths due to indoor radon exposure. It was found that indoor radon is responsible for 8% of all lung cancer deaths occurring in this province. (137)Cs activity concentration was measured 21 years after the Chernobyl accident. The results showed that (137)Cs activity concentration ranged from 41 to 1304 Bq kg(-1) with an average value of 307 Bq kg(-1). The indoor radon results and the geology of the studied area were discussed. Annual effective doses to the both radionuclides of natural origin and (137)Cs were estimated.

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.

Natural and artificial radioactivity measurements in Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey.

In the present work, naturally occurring radionuclides of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K were measured in soil samples collected from the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. It was found that the activity concentrations ranged from 12 to 120Bqkg(-1) for (226)Ra, from 13 to 121Bqkg(-1) for (232)Th and from 204 to 1295Bqkg(-1) for (40)K. Besides naturally occurring radionuclides, (137)Cs activity concentration was measured in soil, lichen and moss samples and it was found that (137)Cs activity concentration ranged from 27 to 775Bqkg(-1) with for soil, from 29 to 879Bqkg(-1) for lichen and from 67 to 1396Bqkg(-1) for moss samples. Annual effective doses due to the naturally occurring radionuclides and (137)Cs were estimated. Ecological half-lives of (137)Cs in lichen and moss species were estimated. The decrease of the activity concentrations in the present measurements (2007) relative to those in 1993 indicated ecological half-lives between 1.36 and 2.96 years for lichen and between 1.35 and 2.85 years for moss species.

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.

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.

Calculation of radiation attenuation coefficients, effective atomic numbers and electron densities for some building materials

Some building materials, regularly used in Turkey, such as sand, cement, gas concrete (lightweight, aerated concrete), tile and brick, have been investigated in terms of mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), effective atomic, numbers (Z(eff)), effective electron densities (N(e)) and photon interaction cross section (σ(a)) at 14 different energies from 81- to 1332-keV gamma-ray energies. The gamma rays were detected by using gamma-ray spectroscopy, a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. The elemental compositions of samples were analysed using an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Mass attenuation coefficients of these samples have been compared with tabulations based upon the results of WinXcom. The theoretical mass attenuation coefficients were estimated using the mixture rule and the experimental values of investigated parameters were compared with the calculated values. The agreement of measured values of mass attenuation coefficient, effective atomic numbers, effective electron densities and photon interaction cross section with the theory has been found to be quite satisfactory.

Radioactivity and heavy metal levels in hazelnut growing in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey

The Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey is one of the main hazelnut producers in Turkey and in the world. Since this region was contaminated by the Chernobyl accident in 1986, a comprehensive study was planned and carried out to determine the radioactivity level in hazelnut growing region. The dose due to consumption of hazelnut by the public was estimated and it was shown that this dose imposes no threat to human health. In addition, heavy metal analysis was performed in the samples and the amount of Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb were also detected. The results showed that the concentrations of heavy metal are below the daily intake recommended by the international organizations.

Assessment of Radiological Levels at Schools in Trabzon, Turkey

In this study, a survey on environmental radioactivity in 16 high schools located in north eastern region of Turkey (the black sea region, province of Trabzon) was carried out. Indoor air radon (222Rn) concentrations were measured in spring and autumn 2008 seasons using LR115 solid state nuclear track detectors and gamma radioactivity levels were measured using an HPGe gamma ray detector. It was seen that mean radon activity concentrations in schools ranged from 31 to 157 Bq/m3 for spring season and from 38 to 114 Bq/m3 for autumn season. The mean gamma activity concentrations in located areas of schools are between 18–52, 21–59, 11–97 and 265–759 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 232Th, 137Cs and 40K, respectively. The annual effective doses of students and staff received due to radon and locations’ gamma radioactivity levels are calculated.

137Cs and 40K activity concentration measurements and elemental analysis in lichen samples collected from the Giresun province of northeastern Turkey

About 21 years after the Chernobyl accident, 137Cs and 40K activity concentration measurements using gamma-ray spectroscopy and elemental analysis using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were performed in five different lichen species collected from the Giresun province of northeastern Turkey. Being a symbiosis of algae and fungi, lichens are mostly used for environmental measurements since the fungal partner is responsible for the uptake of necessary nutrients or harmful substances, such as heavy metals of radionuclides. The gamma activity results showed that 137Cs, an artificial radionuclide released from the Chernobyl power plant accident, is still eminent in the environment of the province. The mean activity concentrations of 137Cs and 40K ranged from 24 to 254 with the mean value of 102 Bq kg−1 and from 345 to 2103 with the mean value of 1143 Bq kg−1 in dry weight. The results of the elemental analyses showed potassium, calcium, titanium, iron, tin, and barium in different concentrations.

Current Situation of Turkey’s Cut Flower Production and Trade, Problems and Offered Solutions

Gunumuzde kesme cicek gelir getiren bir faaliyet kolu haline gelmistir. Dunya’da 2014 yilinda 609.000 ha alanda kesme cicek uretimi yapilmakta ve sus bitkileri uretim alaninin %39’unu olusturmaktadir. Kesme cicek uretiminde Asya Pasifik, Amerika kitalari oncelikli kitalar, ABD, Japonya, Italya, Hollanda, Ekvator, Kolombiya, Kenya oncelikli ulkelerdir. Avrupa Kitasi Dunya toplam ihracatinin %63’une Amerika kitasi %29’una hâkimdir. En cok Kesme cicek ihracati yapan ulkeler Hollanda (%56), Kolombiya (%17), Ekvator’dur (%11). En cok kesme cicek ithal eden ulkeler ABD (%18), Almanya (%15), Hollanda’dir (%14). Turkiye’de sus bitkileri uretimi yapilan alanlarin %26’sinda kesme cicek uretilmektedir. 2016 yili TUIK verilerine gore; kesme cicek uretimi toplamda 1.195 hektarlik alanda yapilmaktadir. Kesme cicek uretiminin sus bitkileri icerisindeki payi %68’in uzerindedir. Kesme cicek uretiminde Akdeniz bolgesi %46’lik pay ve 5.095 da ile en fazla kesme cicek uretim alanina sahiptir. Turkiye cografi konumu ve iklim ozellikleri bakimindan kesme cicek uretiminde genis imkânlara sahip ulkeler arasinda yer almaktadir. Kesme cicek uretiminde ekim alani olarak ilk sirayi Izmir (%41,25) almaktadir. Turkiye’nin sus bitkileri ihracati 81,5 milyon ABD dolarina yukselmis ve dunyada bu degerle 26.sirada yer almistir. Urun gruplari icerisinde %34 oranla en fazla ihracat 27,7milyon ABD dolariyla kesme ciceklere aittir. En fazla ihracat yapilan ulke Hollanda’dir (%19,29). Turkiye’de kesme cicekler arasinda en fazla uretimi ve ihracati yapilan cicek karanfildir. Kesme cicek sektoru gelismeye acik bir sektordur. Bu nedenle ticarette pazar istekleri dogrultusunda hareket etmek ve urun cesitliligine gitmek sektorun gelisimine faydali olacaktir.