Determination of background radiation map of Kırşehir province

The aim of this thesis is to determine the radioactivity levels of soil samples, total alpha and beta activity concentrations in water samples and to create a radiological map of Kırşehir province in Turkey by analyzing environmental radiation measurements. Soil samples collected from 47 locations were analyzed for 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs radionuclides using gamma spectrometer with HpGe detector. According to the results obtained, gamma radioactivity concentration ranges and mean values for 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs were 133±15- 1515±128 Bq/kg (599. 40 Bq/kg), 0.3±0.09- 21.1±1.7 Bq/kg (4.61 Bq/kg), 8.7±0.9- 128.5±8.5 (29.66 Bq/kg) and 11.6±8.6 - 273.8±19.9 Bq/kg (48.80 Bq/kg). The average radioactivity levels for 40K and 232Th are above the world average. The provincial average value of total alpha activity concentration analyzed in water samples was 0.207±0.04 Bq/L. The provincial average value of total beta activity concentration analyzed in water samples was 0.275±0.04 Bq/L. The provincial average values determined in the water samples were below the world average value. Average radium equivalent activity (Raeq), gamma dose rate (D), annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), external hazard index (Hex) and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) were calculated as 145.45 Bq/kg, 122.13 nGy/h, 0.15 mSv/h, 0.392 and 0.292x10-3 respectively. In addition, the radioactivity concentrations of food products grown and consumed intensively in Kırşehir province were determined.