Radiological Characterization of Beach Sands in the Çeşme Peninsula (İzmir, Türkiye): Activity Concentrations and Health Risk Assessment

This study investigates the activity concentrations of 40K,2³8U,2³2Th, and 1³7Cs in beach sands collected from the Çeşme Peninsula (İzmir, Türkiye) using a NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectrometer. 40K, 238U, 232Th and 137Cs activity concentrations in beach sands range from 68.7 ± 8.3 to 620.8 ± 24.9 Bqkg−1, 3.5 ± 1.9 to 56 ± 7.5 Bqkg−1, LLD to 112.5 ± 10.6 Bqkg−1 and 7.3 ± 2.7 to 53.8 ± 7.3 Bqkg−1, respectively. The mean activity concentrations were determined as 265 Bq·kg−1 (40K), 26 Bq·kg−1 (2³8U), 28 Bq·kg−1 (2³2Th), and 25 Bq·kg−1 (1³7Cs). Radiological risk parameters (absorbed dose rate (D), radium equivalent activity (Raeq), annual effective dose (AEDE), annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR), and internal/external hazard indices (Hin, Hex)) were calculated to determine the radiological risks due to the gamma ray exposure for beach sands of Çeşme peninsula. The results were compared with the world limit values and the results of the literatures. All measured values were below internationally accepted limits, indicating that the beaches of the Çeşme Peninsula pose no significant radiological health risk.