Radioactivity concentration levels and potential radiotoxicity risk assessment of aquatic superfoods case study of algae supplements.

It has been found that algae have a variety of health benefits, although investigations showed that they contain radiotoxic elements, including 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs, which may affect human health. This study is connected to activity concentration measurements of the above radionuclides in the algae supplements available in the Middle East markets. The annual effective radiation doses of measured radionuclides in analyzed algal supplements have been calculated. The highest values of annual effective doses have been estimated for 226Ra in Ecklonia (13.39 µSv/y) and for 232Th in Red Marine Algae (11.80 µSv/y), both from South Korea. In algal "superfoods", the effective dose of 137Cs is not significantly affected by the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the activity levels of radionuclides are low, the naturally occurring radionuclides provide the most effective doses, and algae supplements can be considered safe.

Nuclear power plant biological complications on marine biota from a probabilistic accident - A case study.

An accident at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) would result in a significant radionuclide release into the semi-closed marine environment. In this research, the released radionuclide distribution pattern and dose rate in the Persian/Arabian (Gulf) were calculated using a combined hydrodynamic/radiobiological model. Simulations of the dispersion of artificial radionuclide concentrations were conducted using a HYSPLIT model. To assess prospective hazards in case of an incident, environmental risk from ionizing contaminants: assessment and management (ERICA) tools were used. Using the Fukushima nuclear power accident as a model, the scenario source term profile was developed. The volumetric concentrations levels of pollutants ranged between 1 × 104 mBq m-3 to 1 × 1010 mBq m-3 in the radius of 200 km after 48 h. Based on the dose rates of the various marine biotas, Polychaete worms, and Pelagic fish, they had the highest and lowest dose contribution.

Trace element concentration and Al/Fe ratio in sediments of the South East Mediterranean Sea.

The heavy metals (HMs) concentration range, the metal/Al and metal/Fe value were determined in the sediment in order to evaluate the correlation coefficient of HMs at the regions of South East Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus. The results showed that the mean concentrations of the HMs in the sediment samples followed the order Al > Fe > Mn > Cr > Ni > Zn > Cu > Pb > As>Hg, respectively. The pollution indices of contamination factor (CF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), and soil pollution index (SPI) were calculated. The Igeo, CF and EF values for Cu were obtained moderately to strongly polluted, moderate contamination and moderately severe enrichment, respectively. The remaining elements indicated unpolluted or low contamination results. Also, SPI indicated a low level of contamination for the all of the metals. The cluster analysis of data set indicates that the HMs are separated with 50% similarity in two categories of Al category (As, Pb, Cr, Ni) and Fe category (Mn, Zn, Cu, Hg).

Influences of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on excess lifetime cancer risk value of natural radiation.

Abstract: This study focuses on the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on annual effective doses and excess lifetime cancer risk values due to ionizing radiation and radon which has been reported UNSCEAR 2000. The random data collection questionnaire method was applied to assess the indoor and outdoor occupancy factor for three age groups during the epidemic in Turkey. The results indicated age group C (Age > 65 y) has more influence from pandemic indoor and outdoor occupancy factor. As compared to before pandemic data in study area and global average exposure to natural radioactive sources.

Baseline levels of natural radionuclides concentration in sediments East coastline of North Cyprus.

In this study, surface sediment samples from the North Cyprus East coast of the Mediterranean Sea were collected to determine the concentrations of three main natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) using a high-resolution HPGe gamma-spectroscopy system. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the selected sediment samples ranged from 11.5 to 31.6, 11.8 to 24.9, and 391.7 to 1014 Bq kg-1 dw (dry weight), respectively. The concentration distribution analysis showed that the kurtosis statistics parameter was negative, and the concentration distribution was less peaked than the normal curve. The mean activity concentrations of 40K (628.1 Bq kg-1) in the sediment samples was higher than the worldwide average (420 Bq kg-1) concentration. The radium equivalent activity, external hazard, internal hazard and gamma activity concentration indexes were calculated to assess the pollution and risk level of radionuclides. The radiological risk assessment indicated that observed values were below the threshold values.

Some physicochemical parameters and 226Ra concentration in groundwater samples of North Guilan, Iran.

The 226Ra concentration and some physicochemical parameters have been measured in thermal spring waters used for medical therapy and drinking purposes in the Astara basin of North Guilan, Iran. The radon emanation method was performed using the AB-5 photomultiplier tube to measure the 226Ra concentration in water samples. Also, the physicochemical parameters of the water were measured in situ using a portable multimeter-VWR multi. The average concentrations of 226Ra were ranged between 3.4 ± 0.06 to 38.2 ± 0.08 mBq l-1. For all samples, the 226Ra concentration values range is lower than the maximum admissible value recommended by the WHO report. The relation between the physicochemical parameters and 226Ra activity concentration of groundwater was assessed. The results indicate a significant correlation coefficient between 226Ra concentration and T, as well as acidity pH. Anomalously high 226Ra concentrations in groundwater are preferentially found in high temperate and electric conductivity along with the acidic environment.

Heavy metals and natural radioactivity concentration in sediments of the Mediterranean Sea coast.

Heavy metal assessment and natural radioactivity determination in sediments of North Cyprus (Mediterranean coast) were carried out using different analysis methods. The average activity concentrations (range) of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were found to be 20.1 (30.6-9.2) Bq kg-1dry weight, 18.4 (26.9-12.4) Bq kg-1dw, and 467.3 (619.9-147.6) Bq kg-1dw, respectively. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra and 232Th in the sediment samples were less than the acceptable limits, whereas the average activity concentration of 40K in the sediment samples was higher than the worldwide average concentration. With regard to the studied heavy metals, the corresponding decreasing average concentration orders were found to be Mn > Zn > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb. The heavy metal concentration values that were determined for sediment samples were compared with the values obtained in other studies. According to contamination indexes, the results (except for Cu in S-9) indicated no significant contaminated area.

137Cs and 40K concentration ratios (CRs) in annual and perennial plants in the Caspian coast.

This research attempted to investigate the plant/soil concentration ratios (CRs) of 137Cs and 40K in plants that grow on the Anzali Lagoon of the Caspian coast, Iran. The activity concentrations of 137Cs and 40K were measured in soil samples, annual plants (Echinochloa crus-galli, Digitaria sanguinalis, and Trifolium repens), and perennial plants (Phragmites australis, and Cynodon dactylon). The relationship of activity concentration with soil particle density, and pH of soil samples, CR, and 137Cs/40K discrimination factor (DF) were determined. The activity concentration of 137Cs in the soil, annual plants, and perennial plants ranged between 12- and 124 (Bq/kg dry weight), 2- and 17 (Bq/kg dw), and 2 - and 14 (Bq/kg dw), respectively. The geometric mean (GM) values of DF in annual and perennial plants were 0.57 and 0.55, respectively. The CR for 137Cs and 40K varied as a non-linear relation in annual plants and perennial plants. This study showed that the CRs for 137Cs in annual plants were higher than the CRs for perennial plants.