Heavy metal and radionuclide levels in soil around Afsin-Elbistan coal-fired thermal power plants, Turkey

This study aimed to determine the incidence of naturally occurring radionuclides 232 Th, 238 U and 40 K, artificial radionuclide 137 Cs, and heavy metals in soil samples collected from the surroundings of Afsin-Elbistan coal-fired thermal power plant in Kahramanmaras Province, Turkey. Physical and chemical properties of the soil samples were also determined. Radiation levels were measured using a gamma multichannel analyzer equipped with an HPGe detector (Canberra 2020). Concentrations of the studied elements were determined using ICP-AES. The average specific activity of 137 Cs, 40 K, 232 Th and 238 U at standard deviations was found to be 51.4 ± 84.9, 409 ± 180, 39.8 ± 18.8 and 34.4 ± 22.0 Bq kg −1 . Radium equivalent activity (Raeq) was calculated to be 122.8 Bq kg −1 , lower than the limits recommended by the OECD. Mean concentrations of heavy metals were 6.29 ± 0.77, 70.5 ± 20.3, 59.5 ± 75.2, 89.8 ± 58.9, 26.7 ± 23.7, 89.2 ± 58.4, 18,806 ± 4,273 and 14,634 ± 1,166 mg.kg −1 for Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Al and Fe, respectively. The Cd content in all samples and maximum values of Cu, Cr and Ni were higher than the limits specified for soil in Turkey.