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Heavy metal and radionuclide levels in soil around Afsin-Elbistan coal-fired thermal power plants, Turkey

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Abstract

This study aimed to determine the incidence of naturally occurring radionuclides 232Th, 238U and 40K, artificial radionuclide 137Cs, and heavy metals in soil samples collected from the surroundings of Afsin-Elbistan coal-fired thermal power plant in Kahramanmaras Province, Turkey. Physical and chemical properties of the soil samples were also determined. Radiation levels were measured using a gamma multichannel analyzer equipped with an HPGe detector (Canberra 2020). Concentrations of the studied elements were determined using ICP-AES. The average specific activity of 137Cs, 40K, 232Th and 238U at standard deviations was found to be 51.4 ± 84.9, 409 ± 180, 39.8 ± 18.8 and 34.4 ± 22.0 Bq kg−1. Radium equivalent activity (Raeq) was calculated to be 122.8 Bq kg−1, lower than the limits recommended by the OECD. Mean concentrations of heavy metals were 6.29 ± 0.77, 70.5 ± 20.3, 59.5 ± 75.2, 89.8 ± 58.9, 26.7 ± 23.7, 89.2 ± 58.4, 18,806 ± 4,273 and 14,634 ± 1,166 mg.kg−1 for Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Al and Fe, respectively. The Cd content in all samples and maximum values of Cu, Cr and Ni were higher than the limits specified for soil in Turkey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vocational Health College, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey

    Akın Çayır & Münevver Coşkun

  2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Murat Belivermiş & Önder Kılıç

  3. Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Terzioglu Campus, Çanakkale, Turkey

    Mahmut Coşkun

Authors
  1. Akın Çayır
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  2. Murat Belivermiş
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  3. Önder Kılıç
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  4. Mahmut Coşkun
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  5. Münevver Coşkun
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Correspondence to Akın Çayır.

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Çayır, A., Belivermiş, M., Kılıç, Ö. et al. Heavy metal and radionuclide levels in soil around Afsin-Elbistan coal-fired thermal power plants, Turkey. Environ Earth Sci 67, 1183–1190 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-1561-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-1561-y

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