Excess lifetime cancer risk due to natural radioactivity in Gümüşhane Province, NE Turkey

Nafiz Maden,Enver Akaryali,Mehmet Ali Gücer

doi:10.3906/yer-1907-8

Abstract

In this study, 162 in situ measurements of 238U, 232Th, and 40K radionuclide concentrations dataset taken by the gamma-ray spectrometer in Gumushane, Turkey are presented. The gamma ray measurements were performed by a 512-channel, three-window gamma-ray spectrometry equipment made by GF Instruments. We first observed the radionuclides of the 238U, 232Th, and 40K values in Gumushane. We then calculated the hazard indices of gamma radiation such as annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), internal and external hazard index (Hin, Hex), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) based on the radionuclide abundances of 238U, 232Th, and 40K for the first time. In Gumushane, the average activity concentrations of radionuclides 238U, 232Th, and 40K were measured as 58.7 ± 34.3 Bq kg-1, 62.7 ± 37.2 Bq kg-1, and 1026.8 ± 486.0 Bq kg-1, respectively. The average outdoor annual effective dose equivalent and ELCR values were 132.2 ± 63.2 mSv yr-1 and 0.40 ± 0.19 × 10-3, respectively. Numerical results indicate that the radiological parameters (AEDE and ELCR) obtained for Gumushane Province were greater than the world's mean values.

Highlights

The method of gamma-ray spectrometry provides information about excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) utilizing the radionuclides of the 238U, 232Th, and 40K values in granites, soils, and sediments (Chen and Lin, 1996; Karakelle et al, 2002; Pavlidou et al, 2006)
This research attempts to identify the radiological hazard indices measuring the concentration of 238U, 232Th, and 40K radioisotopes taken by the gamma-ray spectrometry equipment in Gümüşhane, Turkey
The ELCR is presented to appreciate the health hazards in Gümüşhane. This is the first study in which the ELCR is obtained with the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) values gathered from 162 different locations in Gümüşhane

Summary

Introduction

The method of gamma-ray spectrometry provides information about ELCR utilizing the radionuclides of the 238U, 232Th, and 40K values in granites, soils, and sediments (Chen and Lin, 1996; Karakelle et al, 2002; Pavlidou et al, 2006). Kobya et al (2015) computed AEDE and ELCR utilizing AEDEout values to evaluate the background radiation level and public health hazards in Artvin Province. This research attempts to identify the radiological hazard indices measuring the concentration of 238U, 232Th, and 40K radioisotopes taken by the gamma-ray spectrometry equipment in Gümüşhane, Turkey. The ELCR is presented to appreciate the health hazards in Gümüşhane This is the first study in which the ELCR is obtained with the AEDE values gathered from 162 different locations in Gümüşhane. The Eastern Pontides have been defined by dividing into three subtectonic units as Northern and Southern (Özsayar et al, 1981; Güven, 1993) and axial zones (Bektaş et al, 1995; Eyüboğlu et al, 2006) on significant differences, especially in Upper Cretaceous. According to Eyüboğlu et al (2010), Middle to Upper Cretaceous olistostromal mélange and upper mantle peridotites a 24

42 Rhodope-strandja Vardar Suture Zone

Materials and methods

Radiological hazard indices

Results and discussions

Conclusion