Estimation of Polonium-210 activity in marine and terrestrial samples and computation of ingestion dose to the public in and around Kanyakumari coast, India

The brown mussel Perna perna, an effective bioindicator species for monitoring radioactive pollution, was used to evaluate the concentration of 210Po in and around the coastal areas of Kanyakumari, a Monazite rich region. 210Po concentration in P. perna collected from ten different locations in this region exhibited values ranging between 78.09 ± 5.5 and 320.00 ± 18.1 Bq/kg (wet). Kalluvilai recorded the maximum concentration of 210Po (320.00 ± 18.1 Bq/kg), and hence further studies involving the activity of 210Po in other marine organisms and terrestrial samples were carried out from this site. The annual intake of 210Po by the population residing in this location via dietary sources was estimated. Similarly, the total annual committed effective dose to the public was found to be 2.24 mSv/year. The results obtained were compared to the values reported by earlier studies in India and also in other countries.