A radiological characterization of soil samples around the Afsin-Elbistan coal-fired thermal power plant in the Mediterranean region of Turkey was carried out. Moreover, activity concentrations and chemical analyses of coal samples used in this power plant and fly ash and slag samples originating from coal combustion were measured. For this purpose, coal, fly ash, slag, and soil samples were collected from this region. The analysis shows that the samples include relevant natural radionuclides such as 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K. The mean activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K were 167, 44, and 404 Bq • kg -1 , respectively. Obtained values shows that the average radium equivalent activity, air-absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose, and external hazard index for all samples are 258 Bq • kg -1 , 121 nGy • h -1 , 148 µSv • y -1 , and 0.7, respectively. The environmental effect of natural radionuclides caused by coal-fired power plants was considered to be negligible because the Ra eq values of the measured samples are generally lower than the limit value of 370 Bq • kg -1 , equivalent to a gamma dose of 1.5 mSv • y -1 . A comparison of the concentrations obtained in this work with other parts of the world indicates that the radioactivity content of the samples is not significantly different.

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SummaryIntroduction:Pharmaceutical industry is forced to develop new pharmacologically active molecules. Like other plants, mosses are considered to be potential source of new biologically active compounds.Objective:The present study was designed to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of 8 moss species:Hypnum cupressiforme, Homalothecium sericeum, Thuidium delicatulum, Homalothecium lutescens, Homalothecium nitens,Leucodon sciuroides, Ctenidium molluscum,andEurhynchium striatulumobtained from Turkey.Methods:The antimicrobial activity of extracts was investigated against four Gram (+) and six Gram (−) bacterial strains and three tested fungi. Total phenolic content (TPC), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and DPPH radical scavenging activity assays were applied to determine the antioxidant activity.Results:All moss extacts were found to be active against all the organisms exceptHomalothecium nitens.Especially,H. sericeumandE. striatulumshowed the best antioxidant activity.Conclusion:The obtained results show that mosses may be used as possible natural antioxidant, antimicrobial agents to control various human, animal and plant diseases.

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