Radiotoxic 210Po concentration in the Mediterranean Sea sediment and radiation risk assessment of biota

This research presents the levels and distribution of ²¹⁰Po in different sediments of the northeastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The ²¹⁰Po activity concentrations were measured using an alpha spectroscopy system. The activity concentrations of ²¹⁰Po in the sediment samples were in the range between 20.5 ± 0.7 and 92.8 ± 1.6 Bq kg⁻¹ dw with an average of 48.2 ± 1.4 Bq kg⁻¹ dw. The microorganism-enriched sampling sites (bedrock sites) indicated low ²¹⁰Po concentration than sandy coastal sites. As a result of these measurements, the RESidual RADioactivity (RESRAD) biota code was applied to calculate the tissue concentration rate (CR), internal dose rate, external dose rate, and total dose rate of the exposed tissues. The total dose rates of aquatic animals were found higher than that of riparian animals. The ²¹⁰Po sediment resource doses to aquatic and riparian animals were found less than the dose level recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).