Baseline activity concentration of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb and dose assessment in bivalve molluscs at the Andalusian coast

Abstract

In this study, the activity concentrations of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb were determined in different types of bivalve molluscs sampled during the period of May 2014–June 2015 along the Andalusian littoral. Radioactivity con- centrations of ²¹⁰Po were determined through alpha-particle spectrometry using ²⁰⁹Po as an internal tracer. Radioactivity concentrations of ²¹⁰Pb were determined through low-level gamma-ray spectrometry. The activity concentrations of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb varied between 40 ± 2 and 515 ± 9 Bq kg−1 dry weight (d.w.), and ND (lower than limit of detection) and 73 ± 10 Bq kg−1 d.w., respectively. The committed effective dose to humans was calculated to range from 39 to 477 μSv year−1 . Radioactivity and dose levels were compared with previous studies from other countries.