NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES IN SEAFOOD FROM THE CENTRAL ADRIATIC SEA (ITALY)

Activity concentrations of Po-210, Pb-210, and K-40 were measured in different samples of marine organisms from the central Adriatic Sea. The marine organisms were purchased from the local consumer market during all four seasons of the year to evaluate the spatial and temporal distribution of the natural radioactivity. The concentration trend is the following: K-40 > Po-210 > Pb-210. K-40 concentration ranged between 54.9 and 235.9 Bq kg(-1) fresh weight, and the arithmetic mean of Pb-210 concentration for all samples is < 0.7 Bq kg(-1) fresh weight. Po-210 activity concentration ranged between 0.3 and 44.6 Bq kg(-1) fresh weight; its arithmetic mean was 5.7 +/- 7.2 Bq kg(-1) fresh weight. Among the pelagic species, anchovy displayed the highest polonium concentration. The data obtained depend upon the type of marine organism and the period of sampling. Committed effective dose due to Po-210 ingestion from marine food for individuals in the two different population groups was calculated to be 95.9 and 466.4 mu Sv y(-1), respectively. Health Phys. 100(2): 160-166; 2011