Radionuclide uptake in red macroalgae from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast

Abstract

Technogenic and natural radionuclide content in red macroalgae (Ceramium rubrum, Corallina officinalisand Callithamnion corymbosum) from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, collected in the period 1992-2003, was studied by low-level gamma-spectrometry. The data show that the nuclide concentrations depend on macroalgae species and coast locations. The highest nuclide content was measured in Ceramium rubrumspecies. The 137Cs mean value is 9.8 Bq/kg, 19.6 Bq/kg for 226Ra and 17 Bq/kg for 210Pb. The radionuclide pollution is considerably small due to the absence of nuclear facilities along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.