Characterization of Radiological Hazardous Effects of Metal Scraps in Turkey

The main objective of this paper is to determine the radiological hazard level of various commercial scrap piles in Turkey. Samples were taken from metal scrap yards near the city of Istanbul, Turkey. In this study, radioactivity measurements were carried out on these samples. The activities of ${}^{226}\mathrm{Ra}$, ${}^{232}\mathrm{Th}$, ${}^{40}\mathrm{K}$, and ${}^{210}\mathrm{Pb}$ were determined in the laboratory by gamma-ray spectrometry. The highest ${}^{226}\mathrm{Ra}$, ${}^{232}\mathrm{Th}$, ${}^{40}\mathrm{K}$, and ${}^{210}\mathrm{Pb}$ activities were found to be 8,735, 465, 524, and $1,264\mathrm{Bq}{\mathrm{kg}}^{\mathrm{-1}}$, respectively, in residues of technologically enhanced, naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM) scraps. Radiation doses due to gamma exposure and radon emanation from residues were determined. Site-specific test results were determined to be less than the exemption limits for external radiation. According to these results, external radiation doses were less than $300\mathrm{\mu Sv}/\mathrm{year}$ for workers. The main factors due to radon inhalation were based on measured effective radium content, mass, and areal exhalation rates as well as the radon emanation power.