Assessment of radioactivity level in the terrestrial and marine organisms in yangjiang and its adjacent areas (China)

Abstract

In order to assess the radioactive level in the terrestrial and marine organisms in Yangjiang and the adjacent areas,90 Sr, gross beta and gamma-emitting radionuclides (238 U,226 Ra,228 Th,226 Ra,40 K,137 Cs,51 Cr,55 Fe,54 Mn,58 Co,60 Co and65 Zn) were analyzed from 2011 to 2012. The annual effective doses were estimated in the high natural radioactive background areas in Yangjiang (HBRAYJ). The specific activities of238 U,228 Th,226 Ra,40 K and137 Cs in all organisms were <0.05–5.20, 0.30–14.50, 0.11–3.58, 11.1–148.0 and <0.003–0.088 Bq/kg, whilst51 Cr,55 Fe,54 Mn,58 Co,60 Co,65 Zn and110m Ag were below the minimum detectable activity.90 Sr and gross beta specific activities were 20.0–143.0 and 0.021–0.316 Bq/kg. Results show that228 Th was significantly higher than238 U and226 Ra of natural U series in organisms due to the rich-Th soils in the HBRAYJ;228 Th,226 Ra,40 K,137 Cs and90 Sr were greatly lower than the limited concentrations in Chinese foods. The internal dose mainly contributes to natural40 K,226 Ra and228 Th. It is useful to provide some basic data and assess the radiological risk from the HBRAYJ and Yangjiang nuclear power plants in future.