Determination of indoor radon and soil radioactivity levels in Giresun, Turkey

Indoor radon survey and gamma activity measurements in soil samples were carried out in the Giresun province (Northeastern Turkey). The result of analysis of variance showed a relationship between indoor radon and radium content in soil (R2 = 0.54). It was found that indoor radon activity concentration ranged from 52 to 360 Bq m−3 with an average value of 130 Bq m−3. A model built by BEIR VI was used to predict the number of lung cancer deaths due to indoor radon exposure. It was found that indoor radon is responsible for 8% of all lung cancer deaths occurring in this province. 137Cs activity concentration was measured 21 years after the Chernobyl accident. The results showed that 137Cs activity concentration ranged from 41 to 1304 Bq kg−1 with an average value of 307 Bq kg−1. The indoor radon results and the geology of the studied area were discussed. Annual effective doses to the both radionuclides of natural origin and 137Cs were estimated.