Abstract
210Po (polonium), one of the most toxic naturally occurring radionuclides, is well-known as a common natural radionuclide in fish species. Human consumption of 210Po-contaminated fish could result in a significant internal dose. This study determined by alpha spectrometry the 210Po activity in sixteen selected fish species with different living behaviors (pelagic, demersal), trophic positions (herbivores, carnivores, omnivorous), and masses in Dong Thai Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam. The min, max, and average of the 210Po concentration of sixteen fish species were 0.80 ± 0.44, 12.7 ± 0.20, and 3.54 ± 0.31 Bq kg−1, respectively. Regarding the different living behaviors, trophic positions, and masses, the results showed trending of 210Popelagic > 210Podemersal; 210Poherbivores < 210Pocarnivores < 210Poomnivorous and 210Po<0.2 kg > 210Po0.2-1 kg > 210Po>1 kg, respectively. The 210Po concentrations in muscle tissue were greater in fish species with a small mass, omnivorous trophic position, and pelagic living behavior relative to demersal fish with a larger mass that were herbivores or carnivores. In addition, the results showed an uneven distribution of 210Po activities in atmospheric aerosols, terrestrial soils, surface waters, and lake sediments in the study area. The primary source of 210Po could be supplied from atmospheric aerosols and/or terrestrial soils in the study area. The 210Po annual effective dose for adults due to fish consumption has been calculated with a range from 20 to 400 µSv y−1 and 111 µSv. y−1 on average, and it is far below the allowable limits of 1000 µSv y−1.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ababneh ZQ, Ababneh AM, Almasoud FI, Alsagabi S, Alanazi YJ, Aljulaymi AA, Aljarrah KM (2018) Assessment of the committed effective dose due to the 210Po intake from fish consumption for the Arabian Gulf population. Chemosphere 210:511–515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.07.045
Aközcan S (2013) Levels of 210Po in some commercial fish species consumed in the Aegean Sea coast of Turkey and the related dose assessment to the coastal population. J Environ Radioact 118:93–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.11.014
Aközcan S, Uğur A (2013) Activity levels of 210Po and 210Pb in some fish species of the Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea). Mar Pollut Bull 66(1–2):234–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.10.003
Alam L, Mohamed CAR (2011) Natural radionuclide of Po210 in the edible seafood affected by coal-fired power plant industry in Kapar coastal area of Malaysia. Environ Health 10(1):1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069X-10-43
Al-Masri MS, Mamish S, Budeir Y, Nashwati A (2000) 210Po and 210Pb concentrations in fish consumed in Syria. J Environ Radioact 49(3):345–352. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0265-931X(99)00124-1
Benoit G, Hemond HF (1990) Polonium-210 and lead-210 remobilization from lake sediments in relation to iron and manganese cycling. Environ Sci Technol 24(8):1224–1234. https://doi.org/10.1021/es00078a010
Carvalho FP (2018) Radionuclide concentration processes in marine organisms: a comprehensive review. J Environ Radioact 186:124–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.11.002
Carvalho FP, Fowler SW (1994) A double-tracer technique to determine the relative importance of water and food as sources of polonium-210 to marine prawns and fish. Marine Ecol Prog Series Oldend 103(3):251–264. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps104251
Carvalho F, Fernandes S, Fesenko S, Holm E, Howard B, Martin P, Twining J (2017) Technical reports series No. 484: The environmental behaviour of polonium. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
Çatal EM, Uğur A, Özden B, Filizok I (2012) 210Po and 210Pb variations in fish species from the Aegean Sea and the contribution of 210Po to the radiation dose. Mar Pollut Bull 64(4):801–806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.01.016
Chalupnik S, Michalik B, Wysocka M, Skubacz K, Mielnikow A (2001) Contamination of settling ponds and rivers as a result of discharge of radium-bearing waters from Polish coal mines. J Environ Radioact 54(1):85–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0265-931X(00)00168-5
Chen J, Zhang W, Sadi B (2015) A report of radioactivity measurements of freshwater fish samples from the national capital region of Canada. J Environ Radioact 100(144):175–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.02.005
Chen J, Rennie MD, Sadi B, Zhang W, St-Amant N (2016) A study on the levels of radioactivity in fish samples from the experimental lakes area in Ontario, Canada. J Environ Radioact 153:222–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.01.005
Connan O, Germain P, Solier L, Gouret G (2007) Variations of 210Po and 210Pb in various marine organisms from Western English Channel: contribution of 210Po to the radiation dose. J Environ Radioact 97(2–3):168–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2007.04.004
Deiaa E, Abdelmorhit L, Amina G, Benkdad A, Hajoub C (2020) The assessment of radiological risks associated with the ingestion of 210Po, 210Pb, and 137Cs in marine organisms collected from the local fish market of Kenitra, Morocco. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 324(3):1069–1076. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07178-6
Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics (2019) United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Italy, Rome
Froese R, Pauly D (eds) (2022) FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication
Gjelsvik R, Brown J, Holm E, Roos P, Saxen R, Outola I (2012) Polonium-210 and other radionuclides in terrestrial, freshwater and brackish environments. Results from the NKS project GAPRAD (Filling knowledge gaps in radiation protection methodologies for non-human biota) Report NRPA--2012: 3; Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Statens Straalevern, Norway.
GSOV (2022) General statistics office of vietnam-statistical yearbook of Vietnam2022. Statistical Publishing House, Hanoi, Vietnam, pp 683–684
Hassona RK, Sam AK, Osman OI, Sirelkhatim DA, LaRosa J (2008) Assessment of committed effective dose due to consumption of Red Sea coral reef fishes collected from the local market (Sudan). Sci Total Environ 393(2–3):214–218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.12.014
IAEA (2003) International basic safety standards for protection against Ionizing radiation and for the safety of radiation sources (CD-ROM Edition). IAEA Safety series no 115/CD, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
IAEA (2009) A Procedure for Determination of Po-210 in Water Samples by Alpha Spectrometry. IAEA Analytical Quality in Nuclear Applications Series No 12. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
IAEA (2019) Guidelines on Soil and Vegetation Sampling for Radiological Monitoring. Report prepared by Barnekow. U, Fesenko. S, Kashparov. V, Kis-Benedek. G, Matisoff. G, Onda. Y, Varga. B. IAEA Technical Report Series 486, International Atomic Energy Agency. Vienna, Austria.
Khan MF, Wesley SG (2011) Assessment of health safety from ingestion of natural radionuclides in seafoods from a tropical coast. India Marine Pollution Bulletin 62(2):399–404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.12.016
Khan MF, Wesley SG (2016) Baseline concentration of Polonium-210 (210Po) in tuna fish. Mar Pollut Bull 107(1):379–382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.03.056
Kılıç Ö, Belivermiş M, Gönülal O, Sezer N, Carvalho FP (2018) 210Po and 210Pb in fish from northern Aegean Sea and radiation dose to fish consumers. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 318(2):1189–1199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6216-3
Lauer NE, Hower JC, Hsu-Kim H, Taggart RK, Vengosh A (2015) Naturally occurring radioactive materials in coals and coal combustion residuals in the United States. Environ Sci Technol 49(18):11227–11233. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b01978
Lin Z, Wu Z (2009) Analysis of polonium-210 in food products and bioassay samples by isotope-dilution alpha spectrometry. Appl Radiat Isot 67(5):907–912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.01.055
Manav R, Uğur Görgün A, Filizok I (2016) Radionuclides (210Po and 210Pb) and some heavy metals in fish and sediments in Lake Bafa, Turkey and the contribution of 210Po to the radiation dose. Int J Environ Res Public Health 13(11):1113. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13111113
Martin P, Ryan B (2004) Natural-series radionuclides in traditional aboriginal foods in tropical northern Australia: A review. Sci World J 4:77–95. https://doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2004.6
Matthews KM, Kim CK, Martin P (2007) Determination of 210Po in environmental materials: a review of analytical methodology. Appl Radiat Isot 65(3):267–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2006.09.005
McDonald P, Baxter MS, Scott EM (1996) Technological enhancement of natural radionuclides in the marine environment. J Environ Radioact 32(1–2):67–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/0265-931X(95)00080-T
Michalik B, Chalupnik S, Skubacz K, Wysocka M, Mielnikow A (2002) Contamination of settling ponds of coal mines caused by natural radionuclides; IAEA-TECDOC—1271. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
Michalik B, Wysocka M, Chalupnik S, Skubacz K, Mielnikow A, Trzaski L, Mielnikow A (2005) Contamination caused by radium discharged with mine effluents into inland waters. Radioprotection 40(S1):S503–S509. https://doi.org/10.1051/radiopro:2005s1-074
Mishra S, Bhalke S, Pandit GG, Puranik VD (2009) Estimation of 210Po and its risk to human beings due to consumption of marine species at Mumbai. India Chemosphere 76(3):402–406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.03.021
Momoshima N, Song LX, Osaki S, Maeda Y (2002) Biologically induced Po emission from fresh water. J Environ Radioact 63(2):187–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0265-931X(02)00028-0
Nguyen TN, Nguyen TD, Duong VH, Nguyen TT (2021) Distribution and annual committed effective dose assessment of 210Po in popular marine species at the near-shore Binh Thuan province Vietnam. Mar Pollut Bull 165:112073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112073
NIN (2010) General nutrition survey for the 2009–2010 National Institute of Nutrition (NIN). Medical Publishing House, Hanoi, Vietnam
Pluta I (2001) Barium and radium discharged from coal mines in the Upper Silesia. Poland Environ Geology 40(3):345–348. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002540000175
Raja P, Hameed PS (2010) Study on the distribution and bioaccumulation of natural radionuclides, 210Po and 210Pb in Parangipettai Coast, South East Coast of India. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences 39(3):449–455
Seiler RL, Wiemels JL (2012) Occurrence of 210Po and biological effects of low-level exposure: the need for research. Environ Health Perspect 120(9):1230–1237. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104607
Shuryak I (2018) Modeling species richness and abundance of phytoplankton and zooplankton in radioactively contaminated water bodies. J Environ Radioact 192:14–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.05.016
Skipperud L, Jørgensen AG, Heier LS, Salbu B, Rosseland BO (2013) Po-210 and Pb-210 in water and fish from Taboshar uranium mining Pit Lake, Tajikistan. J Environ Radioact 123:82–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.03.013
Skwarzec B (1997) Radiochemical methods for the determination of Polonium, Radiolead, Uranium and Plutonium in environmental samples. Chem Anal (warsaw) 42(1):107–115
Steiner Z, Lazar B, Levi S, Tsroya S, Pelled O, Bookman R, Erez J (2016) The effect of bioturbation in pelagic sediments: lessons from radioactive tracers and planktonic foraminifera in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 194:139–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2016.08.037
Stewart GM, Fowler SW, Teyssié JL, Cotret O, Cochran JK, Fisher NS (2005) Contrasting transfer of polonium-210 and lead-210 across three trophic levels in marine plankton. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 290:27–33. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps290027
Štrok M, Smodiš B (2011) Levels of 210Po and 210Pb in fish and molluscs in Slovenia and the related dose assessment to the population. Chemosphere 82(7):970–976. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.10.075
Suriyanarayanan S, Brahmanandhan GM, Malathi J, Kumar SR, Masilamani V, Hameed PS, Selvasekarapandian S (2008) Studies on the distribution of 210Po and 210Pb in the ecosystem of Point Calimere Coast (Palk Strait). India J Environ Radioact 99(4):766–771. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2007.10.003
Tateda Y, Carvalho FP, Fowler SW, Miquel JC (2003) Fractionation of 210Po and 210Pb in coastal waters of the NW Mediterranean continental margin. Cont Shelf Res 23(3–4):295–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0278-4343(02)00167-X
Thi-Hong-Hanh LE, Michel H, Champion J (2019) 210Po sequential extraction applied to wetland soils at uranium mining sites. J Environ Radioact 199:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.12.027
Uddin S, Al-Ghadban AN, Behbehani M, Aba A, Al Mutairi A, Karam Q (2012) Baseline concentration of 210Po in Kuwait’s commercial fish species. Mar Pollut Bull 64(11):2599–2602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.07.011
Unscear S (2000) Effects of ionizing radiation. United Nations, New York USA, pp 453–487
Van HD (2020) Assessment of the annual committed effective dose due to the 210Po ingestion from selected sea-food species in Vietnam. Chemosphere 252:126519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126519
Van HD, Le Luong H, Dinh CN, Thanh DN, Hegedűs M, Csordás A, Kovács T (2020) Gross alpha and gross beta activities in selected marine species in Vietnam. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27(26):33385–33392. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09874-y
Van HD, Nguyen T-D, Nguyen T-N, Thanh DN, Pham T-D, Luu V-D, Tran D-Q, Van TV, Pham LT, Musthafa S, Dang MN, Van DN, Van LB (2022a) Distribution of 210Po in body organs of Bigeye scad and Greater lizardfish species at Binh Thuan. Vietnam J Radioanal Nuclear Chem 331(4):1635–1643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08237-w
Van HD, Chau Nguyen D, Trinh PT, Trung-Tien C (2022b) Improvements of 210Po determination method in thermal water samples. Vietnam J Earth Sci 44(2):195–212. https://doi.org/10.15625/2615-9783/16851
Van HD, Chu T-T, Nguyen T-N, Le CD, Pham LT, Duong D-T, Nguyen H-T, Nguyen QT, Yaseen M, Musthafa MS (2022c) Gross beta and alpha activities in the selected commercial freshwater fish species in Vietnam. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29(17):26002–26010. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19400-x
WHO (2011) Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 4th edn. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Funding
The authors have not disclosed any funding.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interests
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Duong, VH., Chu, TT. & Nguyen, TN. Factors Contributing to Accumulation of 210Po in Freshwater Fishes in Dong Thai Lake, Vietnam and Radiological Hazard Assessment. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 85, 314–323 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-023-01033-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-023-01033-x