Environmental impact assessment of natural radioactivity and heavy metals in drinking water around Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Mersin Province

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine natural radioactive and heavy element concentrations in Mersindrinking water samples before the commissioning of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant and to collect data for possibleenvironmental contaminations in the future. Drinking water samples were taken from the provincial center, districts,and populated villages. The annual effective dose of natural radionuclides and cancer risks were calculated for eachperson living in the city. Hazard index and cancer risk were calculated, which were caused by heavy elements. Meangross alpha and beta radioactivity concentrations in drinking water were 0.059 Bq/L and 0.120 Bq/L, respectively. Theannual cumulative effective dose for people was 30.83 µSv. Average estimated excess cancer risk related to this exposurewas 16.9 × 10 −5. Mean metal concentrations of Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, Ba, and Cd in drinking water were 1.33, 4.65, 54.8,11.1, 26.3, and 0.36 µg/L, respectively. Pb and As were lower than the detection limits. Mean calculated hazard indexdepending on heavy metal concentration was 6.8 × 10 −1for drinking water. Cancer risks of heavy metals decreased inthe order of Cd > Cr > Ni for the region.