Assessment of Radioactivity Level in the Terrestrial and Marine Organisms in Yangjiang and Its Adjacent Areas (China)

In order to assess the radioactive level in the terrestrial and marine organisms in Yangjiang and the adjacent areas, (90)Sr, gross beta and gamma-emitting radionuclides ((238)U, (226)Ra, (228)Th, (226)Ra, (40)K, (137)Cs, (51)Cr, (55)Fe, (54)Mn, (58)Co, (60)Co and (65)Zn) were analyzed from 2011 to 2012. The annual effective doses were estimated in the high natural radioactive background areas in Yangjiang (HBRAYJ). The specific activities of (238)U, (228)Th, (226)Ra, (40)K and (137)Cs in all organisms were <0.05–5.20, 0.30–14.50, 0.11–3.58, 11.1–148.0 and <0.003–0.088 Bq/kg, whilst (51)Cr, (55)Fe, (54)Mn, (58)Co, (60)Co, (65)Zn and (110m)Ag were below the minimum detectable activity. (90)Sr and gross beta specific activities were 20.0–143.0 and 0.021–0.316 Bq/kg. Results show that (228)Th was significantly higher than (238)U and (226)Ra of natural U series in organisms due to the rich-Th soils in the HBRAYJ; (228)Th, (226)Ra, (40)K, (137)Cs and (90)Sr were greatly lower than the limited concentrations in Chinese foods. The internal dose mainly contributes to natural (40)K, (226)Ra and (228)Th. It is useful to provide some basic data and assess the radiological risk from the HBRAYJ and Yangjiang nuclear power plants in future.