Radioactivity levels in waters and sediments from Van Lake / Turkey

It is well known that natural radionuclides can be effective as tracers for the different processes controlling the distribution of elements dissolved and particulate phases in aquatic systems. Significant radiation doses to man can potentially occur following radioactive contamination of water bodies such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs. In the long term, radioactivity in the water body can remain at significant levels as a result of secondary contamination processes. The Van Lake is located at Eastern part of Turkey and it is largest Lake of Turkey. The purpose of this study is to measure natural radioactivity in the waters and sediments taken from along to shore of Van Lake. Total of 19 surface coast lake waters and 18 sediments samples were collected from Van Lake in dry season in 2005, in the first part of this Project. In surface lake water samples, pH, mV and conductivity values were measured and alkalinity content was determined titrimetrically. The uranium concentrations in the lake water samples were measured using uranium analyzer. Radioactivities related to gross radium isotopes, gross-α and gross-β radioactivity levels in the surface water were determined. Gross radium isotopes were separated using the barium sulphate co-precipitation method and then the radioactivity of gross radium isotopes was measured by ZnS(Ag) alpha scintillation counter. The correlation among measured parameters for water samples and concentrations of uranium and gross radium isotopes are also discussed. Natural radioactivity in the sediments was also determined by gamma spectrometer. The field and laboratory studies on this project are carried out