title: Radioactivity levels in the marine environment along the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Qatar.
abstract: A study on (137)Cs, (40)K, (226)Ra, (228)Ra, and (238)U was carried out along the EEZ of Qatar. Results serve as the first ever baseline data. The level of (137)Cs (mean value 1.6 ± 0.4 Bq m(-3)) in water filters was found to be in the same order of magnitude as reported by others in worldwide marine radioactivity studies. Results are also in agreement with values reported from other Gulf regions. The computed values of sediment-water distribution coefficients Kd, are lower than the values given by IAEA. Measurements were carried out for bottom sediments, biota samples like fish, oyster, sponge, seashell, mangrove, crab, shrimp, starfish, dugong and algae. The 'concentration factors' reported for biota samples are below the levels published by IAEA and cause no significant impact on human health for seafood consumers in Qatar.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. Electronic address: ilham@qu.edu.qa.
authors.forename: Ilham
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Al-Qaradawi
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Environment, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdel-Moati
authors.affiliation: Environmental Studies Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Mohsin Al-Ansi
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al-Yafei
authors.affiliation: Environmental Studies Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Al-Ansari
authors.affiliation: Environmental Studies Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Al-Maslamani
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Østerås, Norway.
authors.forename: Elis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.affiliation: Environmental Studies Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Al-Shaikh
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Østerås, Norway.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mauring
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Primal V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abdulmalik
authors.affiliation: Albayan Educational Complex, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Amina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amir
authors.affiliation: Sandia National Lab, NM, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Environmental Studies Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Oguz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yigiterhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bertil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Persson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D058448:Biota; D020387:Food Chain; D006801:Humans; D011780:Qatar; D011834:Radiation Monitoring
keywords: Caesium-137; EEZ of Qatar; Food-web representatives; Marine environment; Radium-226; Uranium-238