Dose rate assessment of 137Cs to mussels and pelagic fish from the combined use of field measurements, satellite data and the ERICA Assessment Tool

Cesium-137 (137Cs) is the most important indicator of radioactive pollution in marine environment due to its half-life (Tph: 30.2 years), high fission yield, solubility (70% ionic form) and bioavailability (similar potassium). Soluble radionuclides, like 137Cs, seawater are associated with physicogeochemical biological parameters (e.g. temperature, water density, biota exchange processes, mass translocation etc.). Considering this characteristic, we investigate potential relation between 137Cs activity concentration sea surface temperature (SST). The parameter SST selected, as element cesium conservative horizontal vertical dispersion depends on currents. Water currents processes that both governed by SST. also influences uptake some organisms it makes more bioavailable affects retention time elimination rate. study area Gulf Corinth (Greece). Cs-137 originates from runnoff land (Chernobyl fallout 1986) a small influence exists Ionian Aegean Sea A total 17 measurements spanning 2004-2005, concentrations were retrieved Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory (ERL) database NCSR “D”. Furthermore, issued NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Databases used for regression analysis definition linear model. estimated obtained model then compared newest measured values samples September November 2018 (a 8 samples). Estimated present relative difference about 9% values. In order conduct risk assessment studied area, dose rates calculated organisms. selected mussels pelagic fish abundant have significant commercial value, being an bioindicator pollution. these (resulting internal external exposure) vary 3.30 × 101 5.40 μGy/year 2.97 10-1 4.86 fish, which much lower intervention levels, indicating low impact exposure.