Natural and Artificial Radioactivity Concentrations and Health Risks due to Radionuclides in the Soil of Nevşehir (Cappadocia)

Abstract

Natural and artificial radionuclides in the surface soil samples collected from the Nevşehir (Cappadocia) region were analyzed using gamma spectrometry employing an HPGe detector. Activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K range from 58.31 to 77.40 Bq kg−1, 60.56 to 90.97 Bq kg-1, and 796.42 to 1142.8 Bq kg-1, respectively. The values indicate that the activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides in the soil samples were higher than the world average. Since Turkey is a country greatly affected by the Chernobyl accident, 137Cs activity concentration was measured to determine whether its effect continues. The activity concentration of 137Cs ranges from Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) to 6.88 Bq kg−1. In addition, the radium equivalent activity, the absorbed dose rate, the annual effective dose equivalent, and the excess lifetime cancer risk parameters were calculated to determine the radiological effect of natural and artificial radionuclides on the population in the study area. All values except the radium equivalent activity were found to be above the world average.