Radiological maps in beach sands along some coastal regions of Turkey

In the present research, the gamma-emitting radionuclides in beach sands along the coastal regions of the Ordu, Giresun and Trabzon provinces, Turkey have been determined. The natural and anthropogenic radionuclide concentrations of the samples have been measured employing a germanium (HPGe) detector with high resolution and purity. The activity for ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs of the samples were found to vary in the range from below detection limit (BDL) to 65Bq·kg^-1, from BDL to 28Bq·kg^-1, from 9 to 1936Bq·kg^-1 and from BDL to 22Bq·kg^-1, respectively. The activity concentrations were compared with those in the literature. The associated radiological hazard indices were estimated, and were compared to the internationally recommended values. The radiological map of beach sand in the surveyed area was imaged. The data presented in the study are crucial since they constitute a baseline for the radiological mapping of the region in the future.