Assessment of natural radioactivity in Elazığ region, eastern Turkey

In this study, the background radiation level of Elazığ region was determined. Indoor radon measurements were made with CR-39 track detectors and a total of 208 houses were screened. Average radon concentration was 98 Bq/m3 and effective dose value was 2.48 mSv/year. Gamma radiation in air was measured with a plastic scintillator at 214 points. Average indoor and outdoor absorbed dose values were 105.8 and 85.4 nGy/h, respectively. Radioactivity levels of water and soil samples were calculated with gross alpha and gross beta methods. Average gross alpha and gross beta radioactivity concentrations were calculated, respectively, as 0.091 and 0.037 Bq/L for drinking waters and as 289.7 and 143.2 Bq/kg for surface soil.