Distributions of the natural and anthopogenic radionuclides from Fethiye Gulf in the South Aegean

Sediments are produced through weathering and erosion of either igneous or metamorphic rocks, are transported to the cost by winds and rivers, and finally deposited on beaches by the action of waves and currents. The composition of mineral and the radiological characteristic of the beach sand is then related to the source region and also to several other processes during the sedimentation cycle such as sorting and transportation. In the present study, natural gamma radiation of beach sand deposits was measured along the coast of Fethiye Gulf (20 public beach), with the aim of studying the provenance and transport processes of sediments in this area. Concentrations of thorium, uranium and potassium in the beach sands were evaluated using gamma-ray spectrometry. The interpretations of eTh/eU and eTh/K ratios provide important information on the history of sorting processes for beach sands. Furthermore, the beach sand sampling along the 100 km around the Fethiye Gulf allowed for evaluation of the radioactivity levels in terms of radiological risk assessments in this touristic region.