Determination of radioactivity levels and heavy metal concentrations in seawater, sediment and anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) from the Black Sea in Rize, Turkey

Seawater, sediment and fish (anchovy) samples consumed in the Rize province of the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey were collected from five different stations. The radioactivity levels (226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs) were determined in all the samples using a high-purity germanium detector. While 226Ra, 232Th and 40K radionuclides were detected in all samples, the radionuclide concentration of 137Cs, except for the sediment samples (mean activity is 9 ± 1.4 Bq kg− 1), was not detected for the seawater and fish samples. The total annual effective dose rates from the ingestion of these radionuclides for fish were calculated using the measured activity concentrations in radionuclides and their ingested dose conversion factor. Also, the concentrations of some heavy metals in all the samples were determined. The activity and heavy metal concentration values that were determined for the seawater, sediment and fish samples were compared among the locations themselves and with literature values.