Geological and Geostatistical Modeling of Geogenic Radon Potential of Minarets in Muğla Province (SW Turkey)

Abstract

Radon (222Rn), derived from the Uranium (238U) series and emitted from Geological Formation (soil, rock) (Qg), Fault (Qf) and Construction Material (Qm), which cannot be detected by the five senses, is an inert radioactive gas. Radon negatively affects people's health (such as lung cancer) as a result of excessive (>200 Bq/m3) accumulation in buildings. The aim of this study is to measure the radon emission concentrations of the components (Qg, Qf, Qm) that make up the Total Radon Gas Concentration (Qt) in the building (for the purpose of this study, mosque minarets) close to the fault or the possible fault in Muğla province (SW Turkey) and order their sizes. The Indoor Radon Concentration (IRC) of 841 minarets in Muğla province was measured with a portable RadonEye device (made in South Korea). At least 5 Soil Radon Concentration (SRC) measurements were made perpendicular to the fault lines near 14 minarets with a portable Markus 10 device (made in Sweden). About 10% of the 841 minarets were found to be above the European Indoor Radon Reference Value (EIRRV) (200 Bq/m3). When evaluated according to the 13 districts, it is seen that the district with the highest IRC in the 841 minarets is Marmaris (Çetibeli town, 2809 Bq/m3), and the district with the lowest is Ula (Armutçuk town, 217 Bq/m3). The highest IRC was measured inside a minaret made of volcanic rocks in the Marmaris district (Çetibeli town, 2809 Bq/m3). The lowest SRC was obtained in Datça district (Kızlan town, 5830 Bq/m3) where serpentinites outcropped, and the highest SRC was found in Bodrum district (Gürece town, 120000 Bq/m3) where volcanic rocks outcropped. It has been determined that there is a Qf>Qg>Qm relationship between the magnitudes of the factors (Qg, Qf, Qm) affecting Qt in the minarets close to the fault and possible faults. As a result, IRC measurements in all buildings where people live should be done periodically and regularly by the relevant institutions.