Study on the distribution and bioaccumulation of natural radionuclides, super(210)Po and super(210)Pb in Parangipettai Coast, south east coast of India

Water, sediment and Biota (plankton, seaweeds, prawn, crabs, gastropods, bivalves and fish) samples collected from the study region were subjected to analyses of super(210)Po and super(210)Pb. It showed non-uniform distribution of these radionuclides in the biota, in a descending order: molluscs > crustaceans > fishes. Concentration of super(210)Po and super(210)Pb were 1.65 mBq/l and 3.38 mBq/l in water samples and 4.38 Bq/kg and 2.31 Bq/kg in sediment samples respectively. Soft tissues and muscle of animals accumulated higher level of super(210)Po while shells and bones contained more super(210)Pb. Bivalve mollusc Perna viridis accumulated higher levels of both super(210)Po and super(210)Pb thus suggesting that this species can serve as a bioindicator in marine environment. Concentration factor of super(210)Po for the biotic components ranged from similar to 10 super(3) to similar to 10 super(4) while for super(210)Pb it ranged from similar to 10 super(2) to similar to 10 super(3).