Tritium contents in drinking and surface seawaters before the nuclear power plant planned in Sinop (Türkiye) and their radiological risks on human population.

This study aims to determine the background levels of tritium radioisotope in drinking and seawater samples of Sinop province before the nuclear power plant was established in Sinop. In this context, a total of 174 water samples were collected, these are as follows: nine drinking water samples from the Sinop center and districts and 165 seawater samples from the seacoast from Samsun to Kastamonu. Tritium concentrations in the collected water samples were measured by the liquid scintillation counter. The minimum detectable activity for the method used was found to be 1.48 Bq/L. The tritium concentrations of the seawater and drinking water samples were found in the range of

Tritium concentrations and consequent doses in bottled natural and mineral waters sold in Turkey and Azerbaijan.

In this study, tritium levels in commercially sold bottled natural and mineral waters in Turkey and Azerbaijan were determined. Tritium measurements were performed using Liquid Scintillation Counter (PerkinElmer TriCarb 2910 TR). 16 natural and 11 mineral samples from Turkey and 7 natural and 8 mineral samples from Azerbaijan, for a total of 42 commercially sold water samples were analyzed. The Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) value for the method used was found as 1.69 Bq L-1. In total, 7 of the natural water samples and 8 of the mineral water samples were found to be below the MDA value. The average activity concentrations in natural and mineral water samples were found as 2.23 ± 0.90 Bq L-1 and 2.51 ± 0.90 Bq L-1 for Turkey and 2.69 ± 0.91 Bq L-1 and 2.43 ± 0.89 Bq L-1 for Azerbaijan, respectively. In addition, annual effective dose rates and lifetime cancer risk values for the water samples were calculated. These radiological parameters were compared with the values recommended by international organizations. The results demonstrated that consumption by humans of the studied waters would not constitute any health risks in terms of tritium.

Determination of tritium concentrations in humans before the development of a nuclear power plant in Turkey.

The most widely used method to determine the level of tritium in humans is testing urine. Tritium concentrations in urine samples of 100 persons aged 18-66 years selected randomly from a pilot region in Turkey were analysed. The average activity concentration of urine samples was 4.66 ± 1.94 Bq L(-1) and the maximum activity concentration was 27.91 Bq L(-1). The minimum detectable activity was 2.38 Bq L(-1). The annual effective dose from tritium was also evaluated on the basis of the measurement results and reference values recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The effective doses for males and females were 4.56 and 3.54 nSv, respectively. These results were lower than the permissible annual effective dose for members of the public.

Radioactivity and heavy metal concentrations in food samples from Rize, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Rize in Turkey was contaminated by the Chernobyl accident in 1986. A comprehensive study was planned and carried out to determine the radioactivity levels and heavy metal concentrations in four food categories collected in Rize in 2008, 2009 and 2010. RESULTS: Tomato showed the highest concentration of (238) U, at 9.43 ± 0.128 Bq kg(-1) , whereas the lowest concentration of 0.20 ± 0.02 Bq kg(-1) was measured in aubergine samples. The highest concentration of (232) Th was measured at 3.22 ± 0.29 Bq kg(-1) in grape samples. (40) K was found to contribute the highest activity in all the food samples. The highest activity concentration of (137) Cs was 10.20 ± 4.19 Bq kg(-1) , for parsley. The average contribution range of each of the heavy metals to the dietary intake was 0.13-9.14, 0.27-34.63, 0.05-3.62, 0.11-14.97, 0.78-8.51 and 0.01-1.57 mg, respectively, for Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni and As. CONCLUSION: The range of radioactivity levels in food samples of the present study is of no risk to public health. Heavy metal concentrations of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni and As obtained were far below the established values by FAO/WHO limits.