Gross Alpha and Gross Beta Activity Levels of Holocene Sediments Between Şarkoy and Murefte (Tekirdağ)

Abstract

Background and anthropogenic ionizing radiations are main sources of environmental radioactivity exposing human beings. Background radiation occurs as a result of cosmogenic and terrestrial radiation, while anthropogenic origins are man-made radiation. In this context, gross alpha and beta activity of sea sediment samples collected at 7 different stations in the research region (Şarköy and Mürefte) were analyzed using the low-background counter (Berthold, LB 770 10- channel α−β low-level counter). Also, the relationship between the abundance of radioactive isotopes and alpha and beta activity were discussed in this paper. As a result, the average gross alpha and beta activity was determined as 218.18 ± 14.9 Bq kg-1 and 579.00 ± 23.9 Bq kg-1, respectively. Maximum gross alpha value in investigation area 301 ± 15.9 Bq kg-1 (Şarköy Port), and the lowest value is 989 ± 16.5 Bq kg-1 (Şarköy Port). When these values were compared with Bosna River results, both gross alpha and gross beta values were found to be high [3,4]. The main reason why gross alpha and beta concentrations are generally high is that the fertilizers used in agriculture contain uranium, thorium and their degradation products and natural 40K.