Seasonal and spatial variations of 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations in Mytilus galloprovincialis from Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea

Abstract

Results of 2years monitoring of 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations in soft tissue of the species Mytilus galloprovincialis from Croatian part of the Adriatic coast are presented. The samples were collected at thirteen coastal stations (some of which are also a part of the Mediterranean Mussel Watch Project) in spring and autumn of 2010 and 2011. The collected mussels were ranging between 4cm and 6cm in shell length. After sample pre-treatment lead and polonium were radiochemically separated on Sr resin. 210Po was determined by alpha-particle spectrometry and 210Pb was determined, via 210Bi, by a low-level gas proportional counter. The results of 210Po activity concentrations were found to vary between (104±11) and (1421±81) Bqkg−1 dry weight while 210Pb activity concentrations were much lower and in range (8.2±5.3)–(94.1±29.8) Bqkg−1 dry weight. Higher 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations were determined in spring period. The inter-site differences seen in their activity concentrations can be due to natural background levels of sites. The 210Po/210Pb activity concentration ratios in all cases exceeded unity for all mussel samples and ranged between 4.0 and 47.9.