Determination of natural radioactivity and calculation of exposure doses in soil and beach sand samples taken in Antalya - Kaş district

Radioactive elements are naturally present in the environment. They cause internal radiation exposure when taken into the body through inhalation or ingestion, and they cause people to be exposed to external radiation when they are present in the environment. Natural radioactive isotopes 40K, 238U, 232Th whice are the main sources cümof external radiation to which people are exposed. Long-term high doses of radiation can cause health problems, especially cancer. This study aimed to measure the concentrations of primordial radioactive isotopes in soil and beach sand samples in Kaş District of Antalya and to evaluate the radiation exposure of the local people. 29 surface soil samples and 12 beach sand samples were collected from the investigated region and 238U, 232Th and 40K activity concentrations were determined using NaI(Tl) gamma spectrometry. In soil samples, 40K activity was measured as an average of 241.6 Bq/kg (maximum 606.4Bq/kg), 238U activity as an average of 60.6 Bq/kg (range 1.78-231.0 Bq/kg), and 232Th activity as an average of 33.4 Bq/kg (range 3.32-133.8 Bq/kg). Activity values in beach sand samples were found to be lower. In addition, radon concentration, radon respiration rate and equivalent radium values were calculated in soil samples with CR-39 nuclear track detectors and the results were compared with the literature.