Spatial distribution of fallout 137Cs in the coastal marine environment of India.
The data on the fallout (137)Cs in the coastal marine environment assume significance in view of massive expansion of nuclear power plants in the Asia-Pacific region and to fulfill the benchmark study required to evaluate the possible impact of the Fukushima radioactive releases in the Asia-Pacific region. Measurements of (137)Cs in sea water, along with salinity and temperature, were carried out at 30 locations covering the coastal area of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. For the present study the Indian coastal area is divided in three different regions. The (137)Cs concentration in sea water of the entire Indian coastal region varies from 0.30 to 1.25 Bq m(-3). The data obtained in the present study was compared with the North Indian Ocean data and it was observed that there is a 33% decrease in the Arabian Sea (region I), 50% in the high rainfall coastal area (region II) and 24% in the Bay of Bengal (region III).
Environmental Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400085, India. skjha@barc.gov.in
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Gothankar
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Sartandel
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D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D007194:India; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011847:Radioactive Fallout / Q000032:analysis*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D011847:Radioactive Fallout; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive