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The in situ natural radionuclide (238U,232Th and40K) concentrations in Gümüşhane granitoids: implications for radiological hazard levels of Gümüşhane city, northeast Turkey

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Abstract

We have carried out 48 in situ measurements on radioactivities of 238U, 232Th and 40K isotopes at the Gümüşhane granitoid plutons employing gamma-ray spectrometer with a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector. The radionuclide activity concentrations of 40K, 238U and 232Th ranged from 62.6 to 1680.8 Bq kg−1, 2.5 to 119.9 Bq kg−1 and 3.3 to 92.4 Bq kg−1, respectively. The mean concentration of natural radionuclides (40K, 238U and 232Th) was found to be 638.5 ± 421.6 Bq kg−1, 40.8 ± 27.4 Bq kg−1 and 33.5 ± 25.5 Bq kg−1, respectively. The mean values of the radium equivalent and the external hazard index were 137.9 ± 80.6 Bq kg−1 and 0.37 ± 0.22, respectively. The value of annual effective dose equivalent value (81.8 μSv year−1) is lower on average than in the world average of 460 μSv year−1. The external hazard index acquired in this study did not exceed the international safety standard levels, which means that Gümüşhane pluton does not produce any radiation hazards to the dwellers.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. Gunter Dörhöfer and anonymous referees for their advice to improve the quality of this manuscript. This study has been supported by Gümüşhane University, Scientific Research Projects Coordination Department. Project number: 2012.02.1717.3.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geophysics, Gümüşhane University, 29100, Gümüşhane, Turkey

    Nafiz Maden

  2. Department of Geology, Gümüşhane University, 29100, Gümüşhane, Turkey

    Enver Akaryalı

  3. Department of Physics Engineering, Gümüşhane University, 29100, Gümüşhane, Turkey

    Necati Çelik

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  1. Nafiz Maden
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  2. Enver Akaryalı
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Correspondence to Nafiz Maden.

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Maden, N., Akaryalı, E. & Çelik, N. The in situ natural radionuclide (238U,232Th and40K) concentrations in Gümüşhane granitoids: implications for radiological hazard levels of Gümüşhane city, northeast Turkey. Environ Earth Sci 78, 330 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8333-x

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