The anthropogenic radiotoxic element of 137Cs accumulate to biota in the Mediterranean Sea

The abundance of Cs-137 radionuclide in the Mediterranean Sea has limited study despite its environmental effects in seafood chains. For this purpose, the activity concentration of Cs-137 in sediment and seawater have been determined using a high-resolution HPGe gamma-spectrometry system. The average activity concentrations in sediment and water were 14.16 Bq kg(-1) and 1.74 mBq L-1, respectively. The results were used as input data of ERICA Tool modelling software to assess marine organisms? accumulation and dose. The highest and lowest accumulate activity concentration values were observed in birds (9.24E-01 Bq kg(-1)) and the Vascular plant (1.37E-02 Bq kg(1)), respectively. The total dose rate value was ranged between 1.94E-06 mu Gy h(-1) (Phytoplankton) to 4.70E-03 mu Gy h(-1) (Polychaete worm). The total dose rates of Cs-137 to the selected organisms were all <0.001 mu Gy h(-1), and there is no significant risk to marine biota in the study area.