Evaluation of environmental radioactivity and heavy metal pollution in mining areas in Malatya (Turkey)

The radioactivity levels of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs radionuclides were measured in soil samples collected from Hekimhan-Kuluncak mining areas in Turkey using gamma spectrometry with high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The average radioactivity levels of ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th, the average values of Ra equivalent activity, absorbed gamma dose rate and lifetime cancer risk are smaller than the world mean values. Similarly, heavy metal concentrations in the samples (except Ni) are below the recommended limit values. The results of the study showed that the soil samples did not pose a significant radiological and heavy metal hazard.