title: Activity concentration and spatial distribution of radionuclides in marine sediments close to the estuary of Shatt al-Arab/Arvand Rud River, the Gulf.
abstract: Tigris and Euphrates rivers both emerge in eastern Turkey and cross Syria and Iraq. They unite to Shatt al-Arab/Arvand Rud River and discharge in Arabic/Persian Gulf. The activity concentration of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides was measured during the August of 2011 in a number of surficial sediment samples collected from the seabed along an almost straight line beginning near the estuary mouth and extending seaward. The results exhibited low activity concentration levels and an almost homogeneous spatial distribution except locations where sediment of biogenic origin, poor in radionuclides, dilute their concentrations. Dose rates absorbed by reference marine biota were calculated by the ERICA Assessment Tool considering the contribution of 40 K. The results revealed a relatively low impact of 40 K mainly to species living in, on and close to the seabed. Also, statistical association of radionuclides with selected stable elements (Ca, Ba and Sr) did not indicate presence of by-products related with oil and gas exploitation and transportation activities. Moreover, a semi-empirical sedimentology model applied to reproduce seabed granulometric facies based entirely on radionuclides activity concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, Anavyssos, Greece. Electronic address: dpatiris@hcmr.gr.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Patiris
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, Anavyssos, Greece.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsabaris
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, Anavyssos, Greece.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Anagnostou
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, Anavyssos, Greece; National Technical University of Athens, School of Applied of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Department of Physics, Zografou Campus, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Androulakaki
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, Anavyssos, Greece; National Technical University of Athens, School of Applied of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Department of Physics, Zografou Campus, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Pappa
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, Anavyssos, Greece; National Technical University of Athens, School of Applied of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Department of Physics, Zografou Campus, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eleftheriou
authors.affiliation: MARITECH, Engineering and Marine Project Services, Glyfada, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sgouros
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003445:Crustacea; D005399:Fishes; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D019156:Indian Ocean; D008974:Mollusca; D010839:Phytoplankton; D011077:Polychaeta; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D015048:Zooplankton
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive
keywords: Arvand Rud; Dose rates marine biota; Estuary; Marine sediment activity concentration; Oil and gas by-products; Shatt al-Arab; The Gulf