Determination of radionuclide and heavy metal contents of rock salt samples collected from salt quarries in Çankırı province

In the scope of this thesis, the activity levels of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K radionuclides naturally occurring in 45 rock salt samples collected from 3 different quarries in Yenidoğan, Ballıbağı and Doğantepe located in Çankırı province were measured naturally by using a gamma-ray spectrometer with high-purity germanium detector (HPGe). Activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were found in the range of < MDA - 3.1, < MDA - 7.1 and < MDA - 26.4 Bq/kg, respectively. The annual effective radiation dose received by adult individuals due to consumption of rock salt samples was found as 1.6 µSv/y. The heavy metal (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo and Pb) contents of the salt samples were analyzed by using an X-ray fluorescence spectrometry The average values of concentrations of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo and Pb were found as 2.7, 2.3, 12.9, 504.0, 3.6, 1.9, 2.0, 0.1 and 1.4 mg/kg, respectively. The concentration of As, Co, Cd, Sn and Hg in salt samples was observed below the detection limit. The results revealed that there is no health risk due to consumption of rock salt samples from a radiological and toxicologically point of view.