| Summary: This study was done to determine indoor radon concentrations in dwellings and radioactivity levels in surrounding soils of the Artvin and Ardahan. Indoor radon studies have been conducted in Artvin and Ardahan, using SSNTD type nuclear track detector (CR-39). Radon measurements were done for 4 seasons in 73 dwellings in Artvin and 48 dwellings in Ardahan, selected as uniformly distributed on the surface area as possible. The radon concentrations varies from 21 Bq/m3 to 321 Bq/m3 with the annual mean concentration of 132 Bq/m3 for Artvin and from 53 Bq/m3 to 736 Bq/m3 with the annual mean concentration of 173 Bq/m3 for Ardahan. Radon concentrations were recorded high in winter and low in summer for both of the provinces. The resulting estimated annual effective dose-equivalent due to inhalation of radon for inhabitants is 3.32 mSv/y for Artvin and 4.36 mSv/y for Ardahan. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs were found to be 22.36 Bq/kg, 20.08 Bq/kg, 357.52 Bq/kg and 53.69 Bq/kg for Artvin and 35.99 Bq/kg, 30.77 Bq/kg, 342.13 Bq/kg ve 10.72 Bq/kg for Ardahan, respectively. The mean value of total annual external gamma radiation dose equivalent for natural radionuclides was calculated to be 48.02 μ Sv/y for Artvin and 61.89μ Sv/y for Ardahan.
Keywords :Indoor Radon, Radioactivity in Soil, Effective Dose, CR-39. |
