Radionuclide concentrations in mussels collected from the southern coast of Bangladesh

Concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232, U-238, K-40 and Cs-137 were determined in whole soft tissues (WST) and shells of groups of different size of marine mussel Perna viridis L. and estuarine mussel Modiolus striatulus H. and wat er samples which were collected from the southern coast of Bangladesh. Corr elation analysis showed that the concentrations of radionuclides vary with mussel size. A positive correlation existed for U-238 and K-40 and a negati ve one for Th-232 between the radionuclide concentration and mussel size; T h-232 concentrations in WST and shells of the mussels showed an inverse rel ationship with those of U-238 and K-40. while U-238 showed positive correla tion with K-40. Th, concentration factors (CF) for Ra-226, Th-232 and U-238 in both P. viridis and M. striatulus were higher than those for K-40. Th, contents of Cs-137 in both mussels were below the detection limit. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.