Determination of the environmental natural radioactivity and mapping of natural background radioactivity of the Gumushane province, Turkey

The aim of the study is to determine the ambient radiation level in Gumushane province. With this aim, the gamma dose ratios absorbed in the air were surveyed by a portable gamma detector. The activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, 40 K, and 137 Cs in soil samples have been measured by the gamma spectrometric analysis system. The gross alpha and beta activity concentrations in drinking water were also determined by the alpha and beta counting system. By considering the geological structure, the soil samples have been obtained from 62 different spots. In addition, 77 samples of natural and tap water have been collected from different points of the province. The samples were analyzed at the Cekmece Nuclear Research and Training Center in Turkey. Absorbed gamma dose rates in the air were measured in 338 different points in the studied area.