Determination of activity concentration of natural and artificial radionuclides and elemental analysis in Boğacay sediment samples of Antalya province

Boğaçay is a river that is 25 kilometers long and collects water from an area of 830 square kilometers, playing an important role in water supply and agricultural irrigation in Antalya. Boğaçay carries its water to the world-famous Konyaaltı beach and its flow rate changes throughout the year; There is a risk of floods, especially during rainy periods. In the thesis study, the data obtained using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometer system on a total of 40 sediment samples collected from Antalya Boğaçay in July and March were analyzed in detail. In the samples collected in July, the average activity concentrations of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K and artificial 137Cs radionuclides were determined; 12.92 (5.62 - 22.40) Bq/kg, 14.78 (7.98 - 25.29) Bq/kg, 194.52 (91.81 - 392.82) Bq/kg and 3.76 (3.16 - 4.99) Bq/kg, respectively. In the samples collected in March, in the same order, 9.45 (4.25 - 18.36) Bq/kg, 8.06 (3.34 - 14.07) Bq/kg, 104.54 (53.57 - 173, 16) Bq/kg and 1.72 (0.00 - 3.42) Bq/kg. The measurement results obtained show that 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K are at lower levels compared to the average values stated in the UNSCEAR (2000) report (32 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 45 Bq/kg for 232Th and 420 Bq/kg for 40K). When radiological hazard parameters are examined, absorbed gamma dose rate (D) is 23.01 nGy/h, radium equivalent activity (Raeq) is 49.04 Bq/kg, annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) is 162.79 µSv/y, exposure rate (ER) was calculated as 101.05 µR/h, annual effective dose equivalent total (AEDEtotal) as 0.85 mSv/y, and total lifetime cancer risk (ELCRtotal) as 2.96 in July. In March, these values are respectively: D: 13.60 nGy/h, Raeq: 29.03 Bq/kg, AGDE: 95.74 µSv/y, ER: 59.41 µR/h, AEDEtotal: 0.50 mSv/y. and ELCRtotal: 1.75. These results show that radioactivity concentrations and radiological hazard parameters in the region are generally below the world average values. However, it has been determined that the sediments in the region are above the world average in parameters such as lifetime cancer risk and annual effective dose equivalent total. These findings provide an important resource for detailed evaluation of radiation effects in the region. Additionally, the sediment structure of Boğaçay was examined by the XRF method and the main oxides were determined to be MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, CaO and Fe2O3. In addition to the main oxides Na2O, P2O5, SO3, K2O, TiO2, V2O5, Cr2O3, MnO, CoO, NiO, CuO, ZnO, As2O3, Rb2O, SrO, ZrO2, Nb2O5, SnO2, Sb2O5, Ta2O5, WO3, PbO oxides were also detected. Concentrations of trace elements (Cl, Ga, Se, Br, Y, Mo, Ag, Te, I, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Hf, Hg, Tl, Th) determined within the scope of the study were also evaluated.