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ABSTRACT
Bentonite is a soft, porous, easily shaped, and absorbent material rich in aluminum, sodium, and potassium. Bentonite is a mineral widely utilized as drilling mud, ore pelletizing, absorbent/adsorbent, bleaching agent, water impedance, coating, and raw material in various industries. In this study, radiometric measurements of 90 bentonite samples collected from 21 quarries in Turkey were performed using gamma-ray spectrometry. The radiological hazards caused by indoor exposure to adults due to the utilization of bentonites as raw materials in the construction industry and outdoor external exposures to quarry workers were evaluated by estimating the activity concentration index, annual effective doses, and lifetime cancer risk. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K measured in bentonite samples were found as (50 ± 5) Bq/kg, (76 ± 4) Bq/kg and (373 ± 19) Bq/kg, respectively. The evaluation results reveal that the bentonites examined could be safely utilized as raw materials.
Acknowledgments
This study is carried out within the framework of a doctoral thesis conducted at Kastamonu University and supported by The Scientific Research Projects Coordinator of Kastamonu University (Research Project codded of KÜ–BAP01/2020–7).
Author contribution
Collection and preparation of bentonite samples were carried out performed by Metin, Altıkulaç, and Duran. The measurements of the activity concentrations of the radionuclides in bentonite samples were performed by Kurnaz and Turhan. The manuscript was written by Turhan. The final manuscript was read and approved by all authors.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).