Radiometrie analysis of farmed fish (sea bass, gilthead bream, and rainbow trout) from tenerife island, spain

Abstract

This study analyzed the content of gamma-emitting radionuclides in fish farmed on the island of Tenerife (Canary Island, Spain) The fish species included in this study were sea bass, gilthead bream, and rainbow trout. The first two species are produced in offshore enclosures, while the third is produced in a freshwater fish farm. All measurements were performed using two high-purity germanium gamma-ray detectors. The content of gamma-emitting radionuclides in the fodder used to feed the different species of farmed fish studied was also determined. The following nuclides were often detected in the analyzed samples 137CS, 40K, 235U 228Ac 214Bi 208Tl 212Pb and 214Pb. As a complement to this analysis, 210Po concentrations in two fish samples were determined by alpha spectrometry. The nuclide presenting the highest concentration was as expected the naturally occurring 40K, with an average concentration of 0.13 ± 0.01 Bq/g (wet weight) (Bq/gww) in gilthead bream and sea bass and 0 12 + 001 Bq/gww in rainbow trout. The 235U concentrations determined in the same fish species were 0.6 ± 0.5, 0.8 ± 0.7, and 1.6 ± 1.0 mBq/gww, respectively. This nuclide is seldom reported in fish samples. The concentrations of - Cs (the only artificial nuclide determined in this study) in gilthead bream and sea bass were 0.026 ± 0.006 an 0.044 ± 0.01 mBq/gww, respectively. In addition to the radiometric analysis, the contribution of the analyzed nuclides to the effective dose from the mean daily intake of the fish was calculated. The calculated contribution, in terms of dose per person, produced by intake of the analyzed fish was 0.8 μSv/year. This value does not represent a significant risk to the local population. Copyright ©, International Association for Food Protection.