Radiological risk assessment of natural radionuclides in the marine ecosystem of the northwest Mediterranean Sea

• Published in: International journal of radiation biology 2022-02, Vol.98 (2), p.205-211
• Main Authors: Abbasi, Akbar, Zakaly, Hesham M. H., Algethami, Merfat, Abdel-Hafez, Shams H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Ecosystem; marine ecosystem; Mediterranean Sea; Radiation Monitoring; Radioisotopes - analysis; Radiological risk; RESRAD-BIOTA; Risk Assessment; sediment; tissue concentrations; Water
• ISSN: 0955-3002; 1362-3095
• DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2020359

This study aimed to assess the radiological risk of natural radionuclides ( 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K) to marine ecosystem biota. The study site in this was the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus. With the use of the RESRAD-BIOTA (RESidual RADioactivity BIOTA) code, the tissue concentration, external and internal dose rate of aquatic animals and riparian animals were estimated. The total tissue concentrations of the aquatic animals and riparian animals were simulated at 1.14 × 10 6  Bq/kg (water media) to 0 Bq/kg (sediment media), and 1.33 × 10 6  Bq/kg (water media) to 9.79 × 10 1  Bq/kg (sediment media), respectively. The total dose rate for aquatic animals and riparian animals was ranged from 1.94 × 10 −2 to 0 Gray per day (Gy/d) and 1.46 × 10 −2 to 7.40 × 10 −7  Gy/d, respectively. Based on the risk assessment of this study, there is no significant impact due to organisms' exposure to natural radioactivity. Although, further consideration of the exposure levels is required due to the potential effects of protracted low-level ionizing radiation.