Abstract
The 137Cs radionuclide occurring in the atmosphere as a result of the Chernobyl accident has been dispersed over the Black Sea and the Thrace Region in Turkey. In the present study, to assess the risks associated with the exposure due to Chernobyl fallout, the activity concentrations of the artificial 137Cs radionuclide were measured in collected agricultural topsoil samples from districts of Kirklareli, Turkey, using a gamma ray spectrometer with high purity germanium detector. The 137Cs activity concentrations range from < 0.12 to 6.72 ± 0.53 Bq kg−1 dry weight (d.w). To estimate the radiological hazard resulting from fallout 137Cs, outdoor absorbed gamma dose rates and outdoor annual effective dose rates were calculated. The mean values of the outdoor absorbed gamma dose rate and outdoor annual effective dose rate were estimated as 0.10 nGy h−1 and 0.12 μSv y−1, respectively. Statistical data were calculated and frequency distribution was applied in order to indicate the distribution of artificial 137Cs radionuclide.
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This study was carried out using the HPGe detector at the Central Research Laboratory of Kırklareli University.
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Sample collection and sample preparation were performed by SÖ. Sample analyses were performed by SÖ and SA. All authors contributed in preparation, writing and editing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Özden, S., Aközcan Pehlivanoğlu, S. Seasonal variation of the activity concentrations of 137Cs in agricultural areas of Kirklareli, Turkey. Nat Hazards 120, 235–250 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-023-06219-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-023-06219-z