Distribution of natural radionuclides in soils and beach sands of Abana-Çatalzeytin (Kastamonu)

Abstract

A gamma spectrometric study of distribution of natural radionuclides in soil and beach sand samples collected from the terrestrial and coastal environment of Abana and Catalzeytin counties of Kastamonu Province in Turkey was performed with the aim of estimating the radiation hazard of the tourist area and the concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K were determined. The activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K were determined in the ranges 14.95–56.0, 46.5–99.4 and 357.5–871.3 Bqkg−1 for soil samples and the mean concentrations were ascertained as 42.34, 71.24 and 624.18 Bqkg−1, respectively. In sand samples, 238U, 232Th and 40K contents were varied in the ranges of 13.35-41.6, 30.9-53.4 and 275.5-601.3 Bqkg−1 and the mean concentrations were ascertained as 20.57, 45.05 and 411.71 Bqkg−1, respectively. The mean annual effective doses were calculated as 113.08 and 69.16 µSvy−1 for the soil and sand samples, respectively.