137Cs, 40K and 210Po in marine mammals from the southern Baltic Sea. Issue 1 (15th December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ciesielski, Tomasz; Góral, Marta; Szefer, Piotr; Jenssen, Bjørn Munro; Bojanowski, Ryszard
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 101:Issue 1(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 422
• Page End: 428
• Publication Date: 2015-12-15
• Subjects: Radionuclides -- Marine mammals -- Baltic Sea -- Biomonitoring; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.09.052
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: This study provides information on baseline concentrations of the radionuclides Cesium-137, Potassium-40 and Polonium-210 in sea mammals from the Baltic Sea. The radionuclides were analyzed in the liver, kidney and muscle of harbor porpoises, striped dolphins, and gray and ringed seals from the Polish coast by γ- and α-spectrometry. Median 137 Cs activities were 14.8, 13.2 and 23.2 Bq kg − 1 w.w. in the liver, kidney and muscles, respectively. Activities of 40 K and 210 Po in the respective tissues were found to be 79.1, 79.8 and 111 Bq kg − 1 for 40 K and 58.1, 59.2 and 32.9 Bq kg − 1 for 210 Po. The measured 137 Cs concentrations were extraordinarily high in comparison to those reported in sea mammals from other locations. However, dose assessments did not imply health effects from 137 Cs exposure in Baltic Sea mammals. Correlations between 137 Cs tissue activities and reported sea water concentrations highlight the potential use of marine mammals for biomonitoring purposes. Highlights: Marine mammals from the Polish coast contain high levels of 137 Cs. Marine mammals are good sentinels of 137 Cs contamination of the Baltic Sea. Radiation doses from the naturally occurring 40 K and 210 Pb were higher than those from 137 Cs. Dose assessments did not imply health effects from 137 Cs exposure in Baltic mammals.