Determination of radioactivity levels in the soil samples collected from different lands in the Caldag district of Giresun province

In this study, the distribution of natural and artificial radionuclides in the Çaldağ district of Giresun province was determined for three different soil types. Soil samples were collected from forest (mixed forest), grassland (pasture and meadow) and agricultural lands. When the sampling process was carried out, it was noted that the structures of the forest and meadow areas have not been changed by humans since the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. The radioactivity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, 40K in the soil and 137Cs as a fission product were determined, and changes in radioactivity concentrations were investigated according to the uses of lands. The concentrations of natural and artificial radioactivity in the samples were determined using the HPGe gamma detector. Keywords: Giresun, natural and artificial radionuclides, HPGe gamma detector.