Variations of 210Po and 210Pb concentration in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Didim and Izmir Bay (Turkish coast of Aegean Sea)

Abstract

In this study, the activity concentrations of (210)Po and (210)Pb were determined in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected from Didim and Izmir Bay (Turkish coast of Aegean Sea) during the period of April 2006-March 2007. The concentrations activity of (210)Po were determined spectroscopically through its 5.30 MeV alpha particle emission, using (209)Po as an internal tracer. The (210)Pb activity concentrations were determined from the ingrowth of (210)Po, assuming zero initial (210)Po activity. The results of (210)Po and (210)Pb activity concentrations were found to vary between 34 ± 9 and 1855 ± 98 Bq kg(-1) dry weight and ND (lower than limit of detection) - 64 ± 6 Bq kg(-1) dry weight, respectively. (210)Po/(210)Pb ratio ranged between 1.00 and 106.87. The highest (210)Po activities were found in mussels collected from Didim.