Concentration of 210Po and 210Pb in macroalgae from the northern Gulf. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Uddin, S.; Bebhehani, M.; Sajid, S.; Karam, Q.
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 145(2019)
• Page Start: 474
• Page End: 479
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Brown algae -- Green algae -- 210Po -- Concentration factor -- Marine food web; 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.2019.06.056
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: This baseline study highlights the 210 Po and 210 Pb concentration in seven macroalgae species from the northern Gulf that are frequently washed ashore during the bloom season from February to April. The highest concentrations of 210 Po and 210 Pb were 2.947 ± 0.032 and 1.057 ± 0.145 Bq kg −1 wwt, respectively, in brown algae Sargassum boveanum, and the lowest in green algae Ulva prolifera with 1.533 ± 0.058 and 0.170 ± 0.069 Bq kg −1 wwt, respectively. A 210 Po enrichment was observed in both brown and green algae species, with the 210 Po/ 210 Pb ratio being >1 for all the samples. The mean concentration of 210 Po in all species was an order of magnitude higher than 210 Pb, and the difference in mean concentration is statistically significant ( p < 0.001). At the same time, the mean concentration of dissolved 210 Po and 210 Pb in seawater was 0.28 ± 0.01 and 0.52 ± 0.01Bq m −3 with a 210 Po/ 210 Pb ratio of 0.54 ± 0.02 indicating that 210 Po was absorbed from water and more concentrated by macroalgae. The measured concentration factor (CF) for 210 Po in these macroalgae for the northern Gulf varied between 5 × 10 3 –1 × 10 4, higher than the IAEA recommended value of 1 × 10 3 which suggests that a revision of that value may be needed. The field derived CFs for 210 Pb vary between 3 × 10 2 –1.8 × 10 3, comparable to the ICRP recommended value of 2 × 10 3 . Highlights: This paper establishes the baseline for 210 Po and 210 Pb in macroalgae from northern Gulf. Brown algae has higher 210 Po and 210Pb concentration than green algae. Difference in 210 Pb and 210 Po concentrations in seven macroalgae was statistically significant. The concentration factor in both green and brown macroalgae is higher than IAEA recommended value.