A biomonitoring study: 210Po and heavy metals in marine organisms from the Adriatic Sea (Italy)

In various samples of marine organisms from the central Adriatic Sea 210Po was determined by alpha spectrometry and thirteen heavy metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Cr, V, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, As, Sn, Hg and Pb) by energy dispersive, polarised X ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDPXRF). 210Po activity concentration ranged between 0.3 and 44.6 Bq kg−1 fresh weight. The data obtained depend upon the type of the marine organism; among the pelagic species, anchovy displayed the highest polonium concentration. Typical concentration \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \left( {\upmu {\text{g}}\cdot{\text{g}}_{{({\text{fresh}})}}^{ - 1} } \right) $$\end{document} ranges were as follows: Mn: <1.32–1.73; Fe: 4.11–94.27; Co < 0.13–0.23; Ni: <0.13–0.52; Cu: 0.37–145.31; Zn: 0.46–16.46; Cd: <0.10–0.25; As: 0.36–60.52; Hg: <0.13–0.70; Pb: <0.13–0.35, Sn: <0.20–12.67; V and Cr were always <1.32. The data obtained are also compared with those obtained by other authors for the same organism coming from other Italian seas.