Browsing by Author "Gören E."

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Assessment of the Enrichment of Heavy Metals in Coal and Its Combustion Residues
(2022-06-21) Altlkulaç A.; Turhan Ş.; Kurnaz A.; Gören E.; Duran C.; Hançerlioǧullarl A.; Uǧur F.A.
Coal-fired thermal power plants remain one of the main sources of electricity generation in Turkey. Combustion of coal creates coal ash and slag, which are often stored in landfills located near residential and agricultural fields, increasing the potential for high environmental contamination and health risks. This study investigates the content and enrichment factor (EF) of heavy metals in pulverized lignite coal and its combustion residues from the Kangal lignite coal-fired thermal power plant situated in the Central Anatolian Region of Turkey. The concentration of heavy metals (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, Zr, Cd, Hg, and Pb) in lignite coal, slag, and fly ash samples were analyzed using an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique. The concentration of Fe is highest while Hg concentration is lowest in the samples. The concentrations of heavy metals are higher in slag and fly ash samples than in lignite coal. Average values of EF (related to Earth's crust average) revealed that extreme enrichment has been shown by arsenic and mercury in lignite coal and fly ash samples while very high enrichment has been shown in slag samples.
Determination of tritium activity concentration in natural water samples
(2017-04-03) Karataşlı M.; Turhan; Kurnaz A.; Varinlioğlu A.; Gören E.; Yeğingil Z.
This study aims to measure tritium activity concentrations in tap, well, and spring water samples from Mersin province in Turkey using a liquid scintillation counting (LSC) system and to evaluate the corresponding radiological hazards due to the ingestion of water samples. The tritium activity concentrations measured in the water samples varied from < 1.9 (detection limit) to 14.1 ± 1.0 Bq L−1 (119.5 ± 8.5 TU) with an average of 6.2 ± 0.6 Bq L−1 (52.5 ± 5.4 TU). The tritium activities in the water samples were significantly lower than the limit of 100 Bq L−1 for water intended for human consumption. The annual effective doses estimated for different age groups of the members of the public due to the intake of the tritium varied from 0.009 to 0.185 μSv y−1.
Ecological assessment of heavy metals in soil around a coal-fired thermal power plant in Turkey
(2020-03-01) Turhan; Garad A.M.K.; Hançerlioğulları A.; Kurnaz A.; Gören E.; Duran C.; Karataşlı M.; Altıkulaç A.; Savacı G.; Aydın A.
In this study, heavy metal concentrations in agricultural surface soil (0–5 cm) samples collected from the area around the Kangal lignite-fired thermal power plant were determined using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Also, the pH values of agricultural soil samples were measured to assess the level of acidification. Geo-accumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), contamination degree (CD), modified contamination degree (mCD), and pollution load index (IPL) were estimated to assess the heavy metals pollution in soil samples. The average concentration of Fe, Ti, Mn, Cr, Ni, Zn, Zr, Co, Cu, Pb, As, Sn and Hg was found as 39,065 ± 5096, 2262 ± 738, 721 ± 119, 713 ± 236, 610 ± 199, 82 ± 37, 65 ± 26, 64 ± 19, 29 ± 3, 17 ± 7, 9 ± 7, 3 ± 1 and 2 ± 1 mg kg−1, respectively. The values of pH varied from 7.5 to 8.2 with an average value of 8.0 (moderately alkaline). The Igeo, EF and CF results reveal that the study area is heavily or very highly contaminated with Cr, Ni, and Hg. On the basis of the IPL value, the soil samples are polluted with heavy metals. However, the mCD indicates moderate heavy-metal contamination of the soil samples.
Environmental evaluation of natural radioactivity in soil near a lignite-burning power plant in Turkey
(2017-11-01) Gören E.; Turhan; Kurnaz A.; Garad A.; Duran C.; Uğur F.; Yeğingil Z.
Natural radionuclides are released into the environment together with fly ash from the coal-burning power plant and cause an increase in the natural radioactivity in environmental samples. The study concerns to the evaluation the influence of Kangal lignite-burning power plant (LBPP) with a power of 457 MWe, which has been in operation since 1989, on natural radionuclide a concentration in surface soil samples around it. Activity concentrations of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 222Rn) in the soil samples, and emanation coefficient (EC) and mass (ERM) and surface (ERS) exhalation rate of radon were determined by using a gamma-ray spectrometer with an HPGe detector. The average values of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 222Rn, EC, ERM and ERS were found as 37±5, 17±3, 222±30 Bq kg−1 and 9±1 kBq m−3, 12%, 12.1 µBq kg−1 s−1 and 7.1 mBq m−2 s−1, respectively. Absorbed gamma dose rate in outdoor air and the corresponding effective dose rate from external exposure and excess lifetime cancer risk were estimated to evaluate radiological hazards for human population. The results revealed that the Kangal LBPP has caused a small increment in 226Ra concentration in the studied area. No influence was observed for 232Th and 40K.
Natural radioactivity, radon emanating power and mass exhalation rate of environmental soil samples from Karabük province, Turkey
(2020-07-01) Kurnaz A.; Turhan A.; Hançerlioǧullarl A.; Gören E.; Karataşll M.; Altlkulaç A.; Erer A.M.; Metin O.
In this study, content of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) and radon emanating power and radon mass exhalation rate of surface soil samples collected around industrial province Karabük in which the first iron steel plant was built in 1937 were determined by high-resolution γ-ray spectrometry with a high purity germanium detector. The average activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in soil samples were measured as 30 ± 2, 28 ± 2 and 251 ± 20 Bq kg-1, respectively. The average value of radon emanating power and mass exhalation rate of soil samples were found as 31 % and 19 μBq kg-l s-l, respectively. Assessment of possible radiation hazards to the people due to external exposure was done by estimating the outdoor absorbed gamma dose rate in the air at 1 m above the soil, the corresponding annual effective dose, and the excess lifetime cancer risk. The average outdoor gamma dose rate, annual effective dose, and lifetime cancer risk were estimated as 41 nGy h-1, 51 μSv y-1 and 2.0 × 10-4, respectively. A comparison of the activity and radiological results obtained for the studied samples with the corresponding worldwide average values indicates that the results are below the world average values.
Radiological assessment of internal exposure resulting from ingestion of natural radionuclides in Arachis hypogaea L. grown in Turkey
(2020-01-01) Karataşli M.; Turhan S.; Abugoufa A.H.A.; Gören E.; Kurnaz A.; Hançerlioğullari A.
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is one of the most important of all legumes and contains appreciable amounts of dietary oil and protein. Groundnut is added to many foods to enhance their levels of high-quality protein in diets lacking in nutrition. In this study, 51 groundnut samples were collected from the Mediterranean region of Turkey and analysed for naturally occurring radioactive isotopes of radium (226Ra), thorium (232Th) and potassium (40K). The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in groundnut samples varied from 2.9 ± 0.8 to 7.6 ± 1.0 Bq kg-1 (dw), with an average of 5.4 Bq kg-1 (dw); 4.4 ± 0.9 to 10.7 ± 1.2 Bq kg-1 (dw), with an average of 6.9 Bq kg-1 (dw) and 246.3 ± 18.2 to 541.8 ± 40.1 Bq kg-1 (dw), with an average of 427.1 Bq kg-1 (dw), respectively. The annual effective radiation dose was estimated to assess the health hazards caused by the ingestion of groundnut samples based on the measured activity concentrations of the radionuclides contained in them. The annual effective radiation dose varied from 6.5 to 10.1 μSv y-1, with an average of 8.3 ± 0.1 μSv y-1. The results revealed that consumption of Turkish groundnuts does not pose any radiological health hazards.
Radiometric measurement of lignite coal and its by-products and assessment of the usability of fly ash as raw materials in Turkey
(2018-07-26) Turhan Ş.; Gören E.; Garad A.M.K.; Altlkulaç A.; Kurnaz A.; Duran C.; Hançerlioǧullarl A.; Altunal V.; Güçkan V.; Özdemir A.
Lignite coal (LC) is a key energy source for electricity generation in Turkey. During lignite burning, huge amounts of fly ash (FA), bottom ash and slag are produced as by-products which contain radionuclides in the natural radioactive series of uranium and thorium, and radioactive potassium. These radionuclides may lead to radiological exposure of workers and the public and cause environmental problems. Therefore, finding diverse uses for the by-products in the construction sector and earthwork applications has considerable economic and environmental importance. In this study, the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in and radon emanating power (EP) and radon mass exhalation rate (EXRM) from LC, slag and FA obtained from the Kangal lignite-burning power plant with a power of 457 MWe were measured using gamma-ray spectroscopy. The major chemical components (SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO and MgO) of fly ash samples were analysed using an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The annual effective doses received by workers and members of the public were estimated using different scenarios specified in Radiation protection 122. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in LC, slag and FA samples were 187±21, 16±1 and 99±9 Bq kg-1, 620±18, 41±2 and 330±13 Bq kg-1, and 937±30, 38±2 and 272±17 Bq kg-1, respectively. The average values of EP and EXRM of the lignite, slag and FA samples were 8 %, 7 % and 10 %, and 0.1, 0.3 and 0.7 Bq kg-1 h-1, respectively. The highest average of the total annual effective dose is estimated at 153 μSv for members of the public and 74 μSv for workers, lower than the recommended annual limit of 1000 μSv.
Radionuclide determination and radioactivity evaluation of surface soil samples collected along the Erçek Lake basin in eastern Anatolia, Turkey
(2014-11-01) Yildiz N.; Oto B.; Turhan S.; Uğur F.; Gören E.
In the present study, the mean activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, 40K and fission products 137Cs in the soil samples measured by using high-purity germanium gamma spectrometry were 18.9, 27.2, 524.0 and 10.6Bqkg-1, respectively. The activity results were analyzed for frequency distribution, tabulated and compared with Turkey and worldwide literatures. Radiological risk evaluation was done by calculating absorbed gamma dose rate in outdoor air and the corresponding annual effective dose due to external exposure to radionuclides distributed in soil. The mean values of the outdoor gamma dose rates and the external annual effective doses received by members of the public from terrestrial radiation and 137Cs were estimated at 47 nGy h-1 and 0.6 nGy h-1 and 57.7μSv and 1.2μSv, respectively.
Study of the radioactivity in environmental soil samples from Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey
(2018-01-26) Turhan Ş.; Gören E.; Uǧur F.; Karataşll M.; Yeǧingil Z.
In this study, a detailed γ-ray spectrometer survey was performed to obtain the baseline data on natural and fallout radioactivity in soil samples (10-30 cm depth) collected from Iǧdlr which is a province in Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey and located along the border with Armenia. Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant in Eastern Armenia is only about 20 km away from Iǧdlr province. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs in the soil samples were found as 19.1±0.6 (range: 12.8-31.2 Bq kg-1), 21.9±0.6 (range: 11.6-36.8 Bq kg-1), 437.7±10.3 (range: 285.0-613.7 Bq kg-1) and 11.8±1.1 Bq kg-1, (range: 2.5-51.1 Bq kg-1), respectively. The radiological hazards caused by ionizing radiation emitted from these radionuclides on the population living in the region were assessed by estimating radiological parameters such as absorbed γ dose rate in outdoor and the corresponding annual effective dose rate from external exposure, annual effective dose rate from inhalation of radon and excess lifetime cancer risk. The results revealed that there is no significant radiological hazard for human population because the average values of radiological parameters are within the recommended limits.
Tritium activity levels in drinking water of Adana, Turkey
(2014-01-01) Gören E.; Turhan S.; Uǧur F.; Gezer F.; Özdemir B.; Ufuktepe Y.
Tritium activity in potable drinking water samples from Adana city were measured using liquid scintillation counting after distillation procedure. The results exposed that the activity concentrations of the tritium measured in one-third of these samples were lower than minimum detectable activity which has a value of 2 Bq/L for counting time of 1,500 min. However, the maximum and mean value of the tritium activity was found to be 9.1 Bq/L (77.3 TU) and 7.0 Bq/l (59.4 TU), respectively. These values were substantially below the 100 Bq/L which is normative limit in Turkey for waters intended for human consumption. The highest values of annual effective dose received by infants, children and adults due to measured tritium activity were estimated as 0.041, 0.057 and 0.120 μSv/y, respectively. © 2014 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary.