Determination of natural radiation levels in Izmit gulf Altinova shipyard area

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a first insight regarding the radioactivity grade of sediment samples from Altınova shipyard region. For this purpose, six sediment samples taken from Altınova shipyard region of Yalova province at the entrance of Izmit Gulf. A gross alpha and beta count system (Berthold, LB770-PC 10-Channel Low-Level Planchet Counter) was used to determine the radioactivity levels to the samples. In the completed analyzes, the resulting gross alpha activity was calculated as 211 ± 21 Bq/kg, and the gross beta activity was calculated as 717.7 ± 60 Bq/kg. It was also found that the lowest alpha activity in the samples was 129 ± 26 Bq/kg while the highest was 309 ± 13 Bq/kg. Similarly, when beta activity was examined, it was determined that the lowest and highest levels were 508 ± 51 - 914 ± 40 Bq/kg, respectively. The data obtained were compared with previous studies in the literature. This work, which will reveal the current radioactivity of the area, could be a reference data to future works about radiological mapping or environmental monitoring on the region.