Variations of 222Rn concentrations over active fault system in Simav, Kütahya, Western Turkey: Possible causes for soil-gas 222Rn anomalies.

Soil-gas 222Rn concentrations were investigated on an active Simav Graben/Fault System in Western Turkey. Measurements to understand the causes of variations in soil-gas 222Rn were conducted in three distinct sections such that seven selected measurement points in each section lie on a line that is approximately perpendicular to the main fault line. It was found out in each section that values obtained at two adjacent points were abnormally higher than the rest. The corresponding concentrations were measured as 60.76-63.93 kBq/m3, 33.00-45.78 kBq/m3, and 56.20-84.69 kBq/m3 on the first, second, and third lines, respectively. These values, which differ significantly from measurements conducted on a similar line, are thought to be stemming from crustal stress caused by faulting or acidic-intrusive rocks in the region.

RADIOACTIVITY CONTENT OF BUILDING MATERIALS USED IN KUTAHYA PROVINCE, TURKEY.

Radioactivity concentrations of primordial radionuclides Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 for 31 samples of seven different types of construction materials used in Kütahya Province, Turkey, were analyzed using NaI(Tl) gamma spectroscopy. Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 activities of all samples ranged between <2.0 and 81.3 ± 1.5, <1.0 and 24.8 ± 0.5 and <7.8 and 819.1 ± 5.5 Bq kg -1, respectively. Radium equivalent activity and Gamma index of sampled building materials were calculated and presented. All results were found to be below the safety limits.

Assessment of radiological hazard parameters due to natural radioactivity in soils from granite-rich regions in Kütahya Province, Turkey.

The analysis of natural radioactivity from 238U, 232Th and 40K in 357 soil samples collected from the province of Kütahya was carried out using a NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectroscopy system at the Nuclear Physics Research Laboratory, Dumlupinar University, Kütahya, Turkey. The specific activities of 238U, 232Th and 40K in the soil samples were evaluated. From the activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K, the total absorbed outdoor gamma-ray dose rates and the corresponding annual effective dose rates were determined. The corresponding values of the external and internal hazard indices of all the soil samples were also calculated. The external gamma-ray dose rate at 1 m above the ground was directly measured at each collected soil sample location. The results obtained in this study were compared within the limits of values obtained in other cities of Turkey, those in other countries. Radiological maps of Kütahya Province were constructed from the results of this study.