Radiological hazard assessment of 210Po in freshwater mussels (Sinanodonta jourdyi) and golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) in Vietnam

Abstract

²¹⁰Po is a significant source of ionizing radiation that people are exposed to through food globally. This paper presents the wide range of accumulation level of ²¹⁰Po in the organs of two species of shellfish including freshwater mussel (Sinanodonta jourdyi) and golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata), common freshwater species in Vietnam. There was a significant correlation between ²¹⁰Po activity in muscle to their mass and size of freshwater mussels. In contrast, there was no relation between other organs of both species with their mass and size. The annual effective dose due to consumption of freshwater mussels ranged from 68.7 to 291 μSv year⁻¹ with a mean value of 138 μSv year⁻¹ for muscle and from 321 to 4560 μSv year⁻¹ with a mean value of 1422 μSv year⁻¹ for the hepatopancreas. Meanwhile, the AED for golden apple snail was recorded to be higher with values ranging from 105 to 2189 μSv year⁻¹ with mean value of 673 μSv year⁻¹ for muscle and from 468 to 4155 μSv year⁻¹ with a mean value of 2332 μSv year⁻¹ for hepatopancreas. Thus, the consumption of these two types of shellfish is considered relatively safe, but the hepatopancreas gland must be removed before processing.