Radionuclides in resident and migratory fishes of a wedge bank region: Estimation of dose to human beings, South India

Baseline activity concentration of 137Cs, 210Po and 210Pb was determined for 25 resident and 22 migratory fish species collected in a so-called wedge bank region in the extreme south of India. A nuclear power station is now under construction at Kudankulam near the target region and the data provide background information on the radionuclide activity concentration in the region. Three-way ANOVA revealed no significant variation in the concentrations of 137Cs, 210Po and 210Pb between species based on feeding habit, habitat and migratory pattern except the effect of feeding habit on 210Po concentration (p < 0.05). The annual dose due to radionuclide ingestion through the fishes was calculated based on the survey results of fish consumption rates for the local population. The dose due to 137Cs was negligibly small while those due to 210Po and 210Pb varied from 1.2 to 36.9 and 0.2 to 2.9 μSv yr−1, respectively.