The Assessment of Radionuclide Contamination of the Tissues of Fish from the Water Bodies of the Belarusian Sector of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Zone of Alienation and Potential Dose Loads Associated with its Consumption

Objective: to investigate the accumulation of¹³⁷Cs and⁹⁰Sr in the tissues of various species of fish from different types of the water bodies within the Belarusian sector of the Chernobyl NPP Zone of Alienation and to assess the potential dose loads on the population consuming the fish from the contaminated water bodies. Material and methods: 11 species of the typical representatives of the ichthyofauna of the Polesye State Radiation-Ecological Reserve (PSRER) were the objects of the research. The specific activity of¹³⁷Cs was measured by the method of gamma-ray spectrometry,⁹⁰Sr - by the instrumental or radiochemical method. Results: The accumulation of¹³⁷Cs and⁹⁰Sr in the tissues of the fish in the water bodies of the PSRER depending on their type has been studied. The study has found reliable differencies between the accumulation of¹³⁷Cs by predatory fish and fish with other types of nutrition. It has been revealed that the specific activity of¹³⁷Cs in the muscle tissue of the fish is 1.4-1.6 times higher than the accumulation of the radionuclide in their bone and adipose tissues.⁹⁰Sr is characterized by its highest accumulation in the bone tissue, where its specific activity was as up to 16 times as high as that of the muscle tissue. The assessment of the possible dose of internal irradiation following the consumption of the fish from the polluted water bodies has showed that it will be from 0.01 to 0.07 mSv/year and up to 2 mSv/year from stagnant water bodies. Conclusion: The studies have confirmed the necessity of strict radiation control of freshwater fish in the areas affected by the Chernobyl NPP Accident.

¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, dose, radionuclides, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, fish, freshwater bodies, internal exposure