Gross Alpha and Gross Beta Activity Concentrations in Sediments in Gulf of Izmir (Eastern Aegean Sea, Turkey)

The concentrations of gross alpha and gross beta radioactivity were analyzed in Holocene sediments of the Gulf of Izmir (Eastern Aegean Sea). The sediments were collected from four different locations affected by industrial activities, overpopulation, and shipping in the Gulf of İzmir. Each sample was determined for gross alpha and gross beta radioactivity by using a low-background counter (Berthold, LB 770 10 - channel  low-level counter). The obtained results show that natural gross alpha and gross beta activity concentrations in the drilling cores range from 537  77 to 1800  207 Bq kg-1 and 993  60 to 1842  102 Bq kg-1, respectively. These results were compared with previous studies throughout the world, and the study could be a reference data for the future researches related to radiological mapping or environmental monitoring in the area.