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Radon gas measurement in soil samples taken from Kahramanmaras province of Turkey

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Abstract

To construct a radon map, radon activity concentration levels in soil samples obtained from various locations were measured using a Cr-39 passive trace detector, and radon exhalation rates were estimated. In addition, effective radium contents and radon activity concentrations contributed to the indoor radon exhalation from the soil were also determined. Radon activity concentration, exhalation rates, effective radium content, radon activity concentration contribution to indoor radon, and annual effective dose equivalent in soil range vary from 62.87 ± 5.81 to 421.897 ± 40.83 Bq/m3, 8.44 ± 0.78 mBq/m2h to 56.68 ± 5.48 mBq/m2h, 5.98 ± 0.42 Bq/kg to 40.10 ± 4.22 Bq/kg, 0.04 ± 0.01 Bq/m3 to 0.23 ± 0.02 Bq/m3, 0.01 ± 0.002 mSv/y to 0.07 ± 0.01 msv/y, respectively. The mean radon activity concentration, exhalation rates, effective radium content, radon activity concentration contribution to indoor radon, and annual effective dose equivalent in soils were 179.36 ± 7.50 Bq/m3, 24.04 ± 2.52 mBq/m2h, 17.04 ± 2.25 Bq/kg, 0.10 ± 0.01 Bq/m3, and 0.03 ± 0.002 mSv/y, respectively. The soils of Kahramanmaraş city center were recognized to be safe in terms of radon activity concentration and did not mention whatever radiological threat when the findings of this research were classed with the upper and lower bounds advised by domestic and international agencies.

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Acknowledgements

The diffusion cups and CR-39 track detectors were kindly given by the Çekmece Nuclear Research and Training Center. Professor Mahmut Doğru was also thanked by the authors. The author acknowledges Associate Professor Sultan Şahin Bal for helping to take pictures of the tracks on the CR-39 detectors. Professor Cumhur Canbazoğlu supported the author in quantifying radon signatures on photographs. Also, the authors are very grateful to Dr. Muhterem Küçükönder and Dr. Yusuf Islam Bolat for their assistance in mapping the study data.

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This research was not supported by any organization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials and Material Processing, Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, 46100, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey

    E. Küçükönder

  2. Department of Physics, Institute of Science, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, 46100, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey

    S. Gümbür & H. Alıç

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  1. E. Küçükönder
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  2. S. Gümbür
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Correspondence to S. Gümbür.

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Editorial responsibility: Ta Yeong Wu.

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Küçükönder, E., Gümbür, S. & Alıç, H. Radon gas measurement in soil samples taken from Kahramanmaras province of Turkey. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 20, 7477–7486 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-04889-7

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