137Cs in Biota and Sediment Samples from Turkish Coast of the Black Sea, 1997–1998

Abstract

During the periods of 1997–1998, macroalgae, sea snail, mussel, fish and sediment samples were collected from different stations at Turkish Black Sea coast in order to determine activity levels of 137Cs radionuclide. 137Cs activity in the tested algae species and in soft parts of mussel and sea snail, were found to be below the lower limit of detection. On the other hand, the 137Cs concentration in muscle tissue of the sea snail samples were found from 6±2 to 19±7 Bq·kg−1 dry weight. The range of the 137Cs concentration in anchovy fish muscles were found between 4±2 – 10±5 Bq·kg−1 dry weight. The 137Cs concentration in the whiting fish muscle was found below the lower limit of detection. However, this activity found in shad fish muscle to be 25±10 Bq·kg−1 dry weight. The concentrationsof the 137Cs activity in the sediment samples proved that the eastern region of the Black Sea was affected by Chernobyl at a very high degree compared with the western part. The measured 238U, 232Th and 40K concentrations in sediment samples are within the range of the cited values in the previous works at the Turkish Black Sea coast.