Assessments of Natural Radioactivity Concentration and Radiological Hazard Indices in Surface Soils from the Gozlek Thermal SPA (Amasya-Turkey)

Abstract

The concentration of natural radioactivity was determined in the surface soil of the Gozlek Thermal SPA in Amasya. The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in soil samples were determined using gamma-ray spectrometer, containing a 3'' x 3'' NaI(Tl) detector connected to multi-channel-analyser. The photo-peaks at 1460, 1764 and 2615 keV are due to K-40, Ra-226 and Th-232, respectively. The radiological hazard indices of the natural radionuclides content, radium equivalent activities Raeq, absorbed dose rate (ADR), annual effective dose rate (AEDR) and external hazard index Hex were also calculated.