Study on the Distribution and Bioaccumulation of Natural Radionuclides, ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb in Parangipettai Coast, South East Coast of India

Abstract

Water, sediment and Biota (plankton, seaweeds, prawn, crabs, gastropods, bivalves and fish) samples collected from the study region were subjected to analyses of&nbsp; ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb. It showed non-uniform distribution of these radionuclides in the biota, in a descending order: molluscs &gt; crustaceans &gt; fishes. Concentration of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb were 1.65 mBq/l and 3.38 mBq/l in water samples and 4.38 Bq/kg and 2.31 Bq/kg in sediment samples respectively. Soft tissues and muscle of animals accumulated higher level of ²¹⁰Po while shells and bones contained more ²¹⁰Pb. Bivalve mollusc <i>Perna viridis</i> accumulated higher levels of both ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb thus suggesting that this species can serve as a bioindicator in marine environment. Concentration factor of ²¹⁰Po for the biotic components ranged from ~ 10³ to ~10⁴while for ²¹⁰Pb it ranged from ~ 10² to ~ 10³.