Variations of 210Po and 210Pb concentration in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Didim and Izmir Bay (Turkish coast of Aegean Sea)

In this study, the activity concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb were determined in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected from Didim and Izmir Bay (Turkish coast of Aegean Sea) during the period of April 2006–March 2007. The concentrations activity of 210Po were determined spectroscopically through its 5.30 MeV alpha particle emission, using 209Po as an internal tracer. The 210Pb activity concentrations were determined from the ingrowth of 210Po, assuming zero initial 210Po activity. The results of 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations were found to vary between 34 ± 9 and 1855 ± 98 Bq kg−1 dry weight and ND (lower than limit of detection) – 64 ± 6 Bq kg−1 dry weight, respectively. 210Po/210Pb ratio ranged between 1.00 and 106.87. The highest 210Po activities were found in mussels collected from Didim.