RADIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN A URANIUM DEPOSIT AREA: KÖPRÜBAŞI, TÜRKIYE.

This article presents an environmental radioactivity assessment conducted in Köprübaşı, a district in Türkiye notable for its uranium mineral exploration and processing activities. Measurements revealed that outdoor and indoor absorbed dose rates in air, as well as soil radioactivity—particularly from the radionuclide radium-226 (^226Ra)—are significantly elevated in uranium mining areas compared to worldwide averages, with some agricultural products near open mining sites also showing high ^226Ra levels. Drinking water radioactivity levels were generally below World Health Organization guidelines, and indoor radon gas concentrations averaged 60 Bq/m³, exceeding the global median but remaining below recommended limits. The total annual effective dose (AED) to residents, accounting for external radiation, drinking water, and indoor radon, was calculated as 3.12 mSv, indicating the classification of the area as a high natural radiation zone and underscoring the need for ongoing environmental monitoring and public health measures.