Current state of natural and artificial radiation in the Eastern Black Sea Coast of Türkiye (Trabzon–Rize–Artvin) 38 years after Chernobyl

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the artificial and natural radiation dose levels in the coastal areas of Trabzon–Rize–Artvin provinces 38 years after the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Radioactive 232 Th, 238 U, 40 K and 137 Cs concentrations were determined in 49 soil samples by HPGe gamma spectrometry. Average concentrations were 12 Bqkg −1 for 238 U, 15 Bqkg −1 for 232 Th, 162 Bqkg −1 for 40 K and 37 Bqkg −1 for 137 Cs. Annual effective dose equivalents and excess lifetime cancer risk values are below the world average. This study also presents the average 137 Cs value measured in the same area from 1990–2004–2024.