**5. Results and discussions**

The radionuclide activity concentrations in the soil samples taken from 6 different locations are reported in Table2. The mean activity concentrations of 214Pb and 214Bi of 238U series are 16,81 and 14,65 Bq kg-1 , respectively. The mean activity concentrations of 228Ac and 208Tl of 232Th series are 24,34 and 26,21 Bq kg-1, respectively. The worldwide average concentrations of 238U, 232Th are reported by UNSCEAR 2000 as 35, 30 Bq kg-1. The average concentrations of 214Pb and 214Bi of 238U and 228Ac and 208Tl of 232Th series are lower than world average. The radioanuclide activity concentrations are shown in Figure 4 for 214Pb, in Figure 5 for 214Bi, in Figure 6 for 228Ac, in Figure 7 for 208Tl. The highest value was measured in Saimbeyli town where is on a high elevated place as 28.33 Bq kg-1 for 214Pb, 23.06 Bq kg-1 for 214Bi of 238U series and 49.87 Bq kg-1 for 228Ac, 54.89 Bq kg-1 for 208Tl of 232Th series. The lowest value was measured in Yeniyayla (Yuregir) town as as 5.80 Bq kg-1 for 214Pb, 4.83 Bq kg-1 for 214Bi of 238U series and 8.38 Bq kg-1 for 228Ac, 8.36 Bq kg-1 for 208Tl of 232Th series.

each measurement a reading was taken in air for 1 h at 1 m above the ground level. The instrument calculates an average 1 h exposure rate based on the multiple measurement results. The results include both terrestrial and cosmic ray components of gamma radiation

Soil samples were taken with 25 cm diameter cores collected at different locations and different depths ranging from 0 to 30 cm. These samples were taken from uncultivated fields

The soil samples were dried, pulverized, homogenized and sieved through 2 mm mesh. The meshed soil samples were transferred to Marinelli beakers of 1000 ml capacity. The soil samples were weighed, carefully sealed and stored for 30 days to allow secular equilibrium

Gamma spectropic measurements were performed using a coaxial HPGe detector having a 16 % relative efficiency. A detection system containing a Canberra Model 2020 Amplifier and a Canberra S-85 Multi Channel Analyzer with Model 8087 4K ADC was used for the measurements. The detector was shielded in a 10 cm thick lead well, internally lined with 2 mm thick copper and 2 mm thick cadmium foils. The overall detector resolution (FWHM) of 1,9 keV was obtained for the 1332 keV gamma line of 60Co. Energy calibration and relative efficiency calibration of the gamma spectrometer were carried out using 109Cd, 57Co, 113Sn, 134Cs, 137Cs, 188Y and 60Co calibration sources in 1000 ml Marinelli beaker covering the energy range from 80 to 2500 keV. The counting time for each sample, as well as for background

Gamma spectroscopy was used to determine the activities of 238U, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs. For concentrations of 232Th and 238U the following gamma transition lines were used; 232Th series: 228Ac (911 keV), 208Tl (583.1keV); 238U series : 214Pb(351.9 keV) and 214Bi (609.2 keV).

The contribution of natural radionuclides to the absorbed dose rate in air depends on the concentration of the radionuclides in soil. The largest part of the gamma radiation comes from terrestrial radionuclides. There is a direct correlation between terrestrial gamma

The radionuclide activity concentrations in the soil samples taken from 6 different locations are reported in Table2. The mean activity concentrations of 214Pb and 214Bi of 238U series are 16,81 and 14,65 Bq kg-1 , respectively. The mean activity concentrations of 228Ac and 208Tl of 232Th series are 24,34 and 26,21 Bq kg-1, respectively. The worldwide average concentrations of 238U, 232Th are reported by UNSCEAR 2000 as 35, 30 Bq kg-1. The average concentrations of 214Pb and 214Bi of 238U and 228Ac and 208Tl of 232Th series are lower than world average. The radioanuclide activity concentrations are shown in Figure 4 for 214Pb, in Figure 5 for 214Bi, in Figure 6 for 228Ac, in Figure 7 for 208Tl. The highest value was measured in Saimbeyli town where is on a high elevated place as 28.33 Bq kg-1 for 214Pb, 23.06 Bq kg-1 for 214Bi of 238U series and 49.87 Bq kg-1 for 228Ac, 54.89 Bq kg-1 for 208Tl of 232Th series. The lowest value was measured in Yeniyayla (Yuregir) town as as 5.80 Bq kg-1 for 214Pb, 4.83 Bq kg-1 for 214Bi of

238U series and 8.38 Bq kg-1 for 228Ac, 8.36 Bq kg-1 for 208Tl of 232Th series.

level that was recorded in units of µRh-1.

radiation and radionuclide concentration in soil.

**5. Results and discussions** 

was 50,000 s.

and sampling stations were chosen close to populated areas.

between thorium and radium and their products (Mollah et al., 1987)

The outdoor gamma dose rates was shown in Table 2 and Figure 8.The average outdoor gamma dose rates in air is 76.2 nGy h-1. The highest value was measured as 134 nGy h-1 in Feke town. The lowest outdoor gamma dose rate was measured as 49.5 nGy h-1 in Karatas town.

Fig. 3. Typical Gamma Ray Spectrum


Table 2. Activity concentrations in soil samples as Bq kg-1

Gamma Dose Rates of Natural Radioactivity in Adana Region in Turkey 83

Fig. 5. Bi-214 activity concentrations (Bq kg-1) in soil samples in Adana region

Bi-214

**Activity Concentraions(Bq/kg)**

Fig. 4. Pb-214 activity concentrations (Bq kg-1) in soil samplesin Adana Region

Fig. 4. Pb-214 activity concentrations (Bq kg-1) in soil samplesin Adana Region

Pb-214

**Activity Concentrations(Bq/kg)**

Fig. 5. Bi-214 activity concentrations (Bq kg-1) in soil samples in Adana region

Gamma Dose Rates of Natural Radioactivity in Adana Region in Turkey 85

**Tl-208**

Fig. 7. Tl -208 Activity concentrations (Bq kg-1) in soil samples in Adana Region

**Activity Concentrations(Bq/kg)**

Fig. 6. Ac-228 activity concentrations (Bq kg-1) in soil samples in Adana Region.

Ac-228

**Activity Concentrations(Bq/kg)**

Fig. 7. Tl -208 Activity concentrations (Bq kg-1) in soil samples in Adana Region

**6. References** 

Gamma Dose Rates of Natural Radioactivity in Adana Region in Turkey 87

Blundy, J. and Wood, B. (1991) Crystal-chemical controls on the partitioning of Sr and Ba

Degerlier M. And Ozger G., Assessment of Gamma Dose Rates In Air In Adana/Turkey,

Isnkaye, M.O.. Radiometric Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels of Bituminous Soil

Karahan G. and Bayulken A. Assessment of Gamma Dose rates Around Istanbul(Turkey),

Merdanoglu, B., Altnsoy, N., 2006. Radioactivity concentrations and dose assessment for

Mollah, S., Rahman, N.M., Kodlus, M.A., Husain, S.R., 1987. Measurement of high natural

Narayana, Y., Rajashekara, K.M. and Siddoppa, K. Natural Radioactivity in Some Major

Patra, A. K., Sudhakar, J., Ravi, P.M., James, J.P. and Hedge, A.G. Natural Radioactivity

UNSCEAR REPORT. United Nations Scientific Committee on The Effects of Atomic

soil samples from Kestanbol granite area, Turkey. Radiation Protection Dosimetry

background radiation levels by TLD at Cox and Bazar coastal areas in Bangladesh.

Rivers of Coastal Karnataka on the Southwest Coast of India. 95(2-3),

Distribution in Geological Matrices Around Kaiga Environment. J.Radioanal.Nucl.

Radiation Sources, Effects and Risks of Ionizing Radiations. New Tork: United

solutions.Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 55, 193–209.

Radiation Protection Dosimetry,132, No.3,350-356,2008.

In Agbabu, Southwest Nigeria. Radiat. Meas. 43, 125-128, 2008.

between plagioclase feldspar, silicate melts, and hydrothermal

**(nGy/h)** 

**Places Measured Absorbed Equivalent** 

Balcali (Fen Edebiyat Fak.) 54,1 Yeniyayla (Yuregir) 55,8 Feke(Center) 134 Ceyhan(Center) 52,8 Karataş(Center) 49,5 Saimbeyli (Center) 111

Table 3. Outdoor gamma dose rates in air as nGy h-1

J.Environ.Radioact.47,213-221,2000.

Radiation Protection Dosimetry 18 (1), 39-41.

121 (No. 4), 399-405

98-106,2007.

Chem. 270(2), 307-312, 2006.

Nations Publication,2000.

Fig. 8. Absorbed Dose Rates in Air (nGy h-1)


Table 3. Outdoor gamma dose rates in air as nGy h-1
