Levels of²¹⁰Po in marine species of the south Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

Data are presented for²¹⁰Po levels in edible parts of marine species significant in the diet of the Argentine population. The sample collection sites were situated between 35° and 45° S in the Atlantic Ocean. The specific activities obtained, expressed per wet veight and with a 95% confidence level, ranged between 31.3±9.1 mBq kg⁻¹ for pollack (Genypterus blacodes) and 1790±280 mBq kg⁻¹ for squid (Illex argentinus). Hake (Merluccius hubbsi) followed by squid are the major contributors to the dose. The annual committed effective doses were 0.7 mSv and 0.6 mSv and the effective collective doses were 24 man·Sv and 20 man·Sv, respectively, for these species. For the remainder, because of both their low consumption rates and low specific activities, the corresponding doses were negligible compared with the former.