Fish pollution with anthropogenic 137Cs in the southern Baltic Sea

This paper presents the results of a study on changes in 137Cs activity concentrations in three fish species from the southern Baltic Sea: cod (Gadus morhua), herring (Clupea harengus) and flounder (Platichtys flesus), in the period 2000-2010. During the study period a marked decline in cesium activity concentration in fish muscle tissue was observed, which reflected changes in radionuclide activity concentration in seawater. No statistically significant temporal trends were determined in changes of concentration factors (CFfish/seawater) calculated for the examined fish species. The analysis of 137Cs activity as a function of ichthyological parameters revealed the lack of a relationship between radionuclide activity concentrations in herring muscle tissue and the fish age in an narrow age range (2-4 years). However, a reverse proportionality of total fish mass, as well as body length, against 137Cs activity concentrations in muscles was well documented. The latter observation can be the direct result of the dilution effect related to the increase of fish body weight. 137Cs activity concentration in muscle tissue of the five fish species forms a declining sequence: Gadus morhua, Platichthys flesus, Clupea harengus, Perca fluviatilis and Neogobius melanostomus.

► 137Cs content in muscle decreased with increasing weight and length of Clupea harengus. ► 137Cs concentrations in fish tissues reflect its activities in seawater. ► 137Cs in fish can be an indicator in the marine radioactivity status assessment. ► Generally 137Cs content reflects the species position in the food chain.