Radiological characterization of Cayırhan coal-fired power plant in Turkey

Natural radioactivity of Cayırhan lignite coal treated at Cayırhan (Ankara, Turkey) power plant, its ash and soil samples mixed with ash in the power plant field were investigated. For comparison, soil samples were collected from a distance of 4 km south of the plant. The analysis shows that the samples include natural radionuclides such as 226Ra, 232Th and 40K. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were 57.82, 30.45 and 322.21 Bq · kg−1, respectively. Obtained values shows that the average radium equivalent activity (Raeq), air-absorbed dose rate (D), annual effective dose (AED) and external hazard index (Hex) for all samples are 123.9 Bq · kg−1, 58.90 nGy · h−1, 71.99 μSv · y−1 and 0.34, respectively. The Raeq values of samples are lower than the limit of 370 Bq · kg−1, equivalent to a γ-dose of 1.5 mSv · y−1. The measured activity concentrations for these radionuclides were compared with the reported data of other countries.