The current status of natural and artificial radiation in İstanbul 36 years after chernobyl, preceding a potential nuclear threat

Abstract In this study, the current status of natural and artificial radioactivity levels in soil samples from the Büyükçekmece and Silivri districts of Istanbul, as well as the Marmara Ereğlisi district in Tekirdağ, has been determined in anticipation of a potential nuclear leakage (e.g. the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant). Twenty soil samples were collected from the study area, and the radioactivity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, 40 K and 137 Cs were measured using an HPGe detector. The average concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, 40 K and 137 Cs were found to be 26 ± 2, 30 ± 2, 540 ± 29, 0.55 ± 0.07 Bq kg −1 , respectively.