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Determining Natural Radiation Level in River Water of Upper Euphrates (Karasu) Basin’s Part Located in Erzincan Province Borders



Author(s)

Pasa Yalcin1, Mehmed Kavaz1, Muhammet Yildirim2 and Erol Kam3

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DOI:10.17265/2159-5348/2018.02.006

1. Dept. of Mathematics and Science Education, Faculty of Education, Erzincan University, Erzincan 24030, Turkey 2. Dept. of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Ataturk University, Erzurum 25240, Turkey 3. Dept. of Physics, Faculty of Science, Davutpasa Campus, Yildiz Technical University, Esenler 34220, Istanbul, Turkey

Within the scope of this study, it is aimed to contribute to the efforts for forming a database including the natural radiation levels throughout the country and developing a foundation for radiation safety. Karasu portion of the Euphrates valley within the provincial border of Erzincan was chosen for the investigation and natural radiation levels were detected by analyzing the samples taken in terms of radioactivity, natural environment’s radiation streams. Throughout the region of Karasu, 29 different samples from the water and 17 from the soil were taken and their total alpha, beta activities were detected. To take samples from the water and then they were measured by low background counter (Berthold brand LB770 10-channel counter). Total alpha and beta analyses were made according to the standard methods. Average values of alpha and beta concentrations of samples were measured as 0.0421 Bq/L and 1.806 Bq/L, respectively. For the soil samples HPGe gamma spectrometer system was used and radioisotope activity concentrations were found within the intervals of 2.7-27.8 Bq/kg for ²²⁶Ra; 3.2-39.4 Bq/kg for ²³²Th; 98-714 Bq/kg for ⁴⁰K; < 0.4-57.8 Bq/kg for ¹³⁷Cs, respectively. Different radioisotopes were detected in some of the samples taken from streaming beds joining river water.

Natural radiation, Erzincan, Karasu River Valley, radioactivity, gross alpha and gross beta.