The study aimed to determine the natural radioactivity levels of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K by the Gamma-Ray spectrometry method, and radiological hazard parameters of the plutonic rocks in the Western and Central Sakarya Zone and to analyze the data using multivariate statistical methods. The average radiological values of samples were determined as ⁴⁰K (1295.3 Bq kg⁻¹) > ²³²Th (132.1 Bq kg⁻¹) > ²²⁶Ra (119.7 Bq kg⁻¹). According to the skewness values of the distributions of the examined radionuclides, ²²⁶Ra (2.1) and ²³²Th (0.7) seemed to be positively right-skewed while ⁴⁰K (−0.2) had a negatively right-skewed histogram. On the other hand, the following kurtosis values were calculated for the distributions: ²²⁶Ra (5.8 > 3), ²³²Th (−0.7), and ⁴⁰K (−0.8). Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilk tests were applied to the data to test their normality. Therefore, Spearman’s correlation coefficient method was performed. The radionuclides of ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th were found to have a positive correlation with radiological hazard parameters of the samples. 2 (two)-related factors identified, and the cumulative value was calculated to be 98.7% on the basis of the Scree Plot. According to the hierarchical cluster analysis, the samples that are grouped with those from Camlik region are prominent. The average radioactivity values of Camlik, Sogukpinar, Karacabey, and Sogut (except for ²³²Th) regions were detected to be higher than the world averages while the value of ⁴⁰K was also found to be higher than the average values of various countries in the world.

In this study several soil samples were collected from the Büyükeceli district where Turkey's first nuclear power plant will be built and radioactivity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs were determined by gamma spectrometry using a high-purity germanium detector. The measured activity concentrations in soil samples ranged from 9.8 ± 0.7 to 258.6 ± 15.8, 11.7 ± 0.9 to 85.6 ± 5.0, 173.8 ± 2.1 to 1949.5 ± 14.7 and 0.4 ± 0.1 to 72.2 ± 2.2 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs, respectively. Findings are in good agreement with the published results of neighbouring areas. The absorbed gamma dose rate (D) in air and the annual effective dose of soil samples were calculated to be 80.2 nGy h^–1 and 98.3 mSv y^–1, respectively. The results show that the radiation hazard in the Büyükeceli district is insignificant. The data presented in this study would be very useful to determine the future effects of the nuclear power plant to the environment.

The study aims to investigate the effects of Burdur (Turkey) marble on human health by interpreting their radioactivity concentration (²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K), radiological hazard parameters, chemical concentration, physical properties, and all data related to these features by using multivariate statistical methods. Chemical and radionuclide analyses were performed on marble samples. The data were interpreted by statistical analysis. According to the regression model, an increase in the concentration of vanadium carried to the environment by hydrothermal waters causes a 4.452-fold higher concentration of ²²⁶Ra. The R² value of the model was 0.64 and it was statistically significant. The maximum concentration of ²²⁶Ra in Isparta Davraz Beige sample (M7) exceeded the values of some countries’ standards. Except for M7, the analyzed sorts of marble can be used safely in dwellings and public buildings.