Distribution and accumulation of artificial radionuclides in marine products around Korean Peninsula.

We investigated the distributions of the artificial radionuclides ¹³⁷Cs, ^239+240Pu, and ⁹⁰Sr in the various marine products around Korean Peninsula collected in 2015–2017. The activities of ¹³⁷Cs, ^239+240Pu, and ⁹⁰Sr were in the ranges of 12.2–258.4 mBq kg⁻¹, 0.014–1.879 mBq kg⁻¹, and 11.3–18.3 mBq kg⁻¹, respectively. The higher ^239+240Pu (a factor of 10–50) relative to fishes were observed in mollusks. ¹³⁷Cs in fishes were significantly enriched with growths. The calculated concentration factors (CFs) of ¹³⁷Cs, ^239+240Pu, and ⁹⁰Sr in marine products were 7–143, 3–407, and 15–25, respectively. Overall, no noticeable artificial radioactivity was detected in marine organisms when comparing these results with previous data reported before the Fukushima nuclear accident and recommended CF values. The annual effective doses of ¹³⁷Cs, ^239+240Pu, and ⁹⁰Sr by seafood consumption in South Korea were estimated to be 1.1 × 10⁻⁴, 1.6 × 10⁻⁵ and, 2.9 × 10⁻⁵ mSv yr⁻¹, respectively, which is insignificant relative to that of natural radionuclides. • Artificial radionuclides (ARs) were determined in marine products around South Korea. • No significant spatiotemporal variation of ¹³⁷Cs, ^239,240Pu, ⁹⁰Sr in marine biota • ¹³⁷Cs and ^239,240Pu in marine biota could vary according to main habitats and growth. • ¹³⁷Cs activity in fishes except salmon logarithmically correlated with body weight. • Annual dose of ARs were insignificant relative to those of natural radionuclides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]