Natural radionuclide of Po210 in the edible seafood affected by coal-fired power plant industry in Kapar coastal area of Malaysia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Po²¹⁰can be accumulated in various environmental materials, including marine organisms, and contributes to the dose of natural radiation in seafood. The concentration of this radionuclide in the marine environment can be influenced by the operation of a coal burning power plant but existing studies regarding this issue are not well documented. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the Po²¹⁰concentration level in marine organisms from the coastal area of Kapar, Malaysia which is very near to a coal burning power plant station and to assess its impact on seafood consumers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Concentration of Po²¹⁰was determined in the edible muscle of seafood and water from the coastal area of Kapar, Malaysia using radiochemical separation and the Alpha Spectrometry technique.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The activities of Po²¹⁰in the dissolved phase of water samples ranged between 0.51 ± 0.21 and 0.71 ± 0.24 mBql^-1whereas the particulate phase registered a range of 50.34 ± 11.40 to 72.07 ± 21.20 Bqkg^-1. The ranges of Po²¹⁰activities in the organism samples were 4.4 ± 0.12 to 6.4 ± 0.95 Bqkg^-1dry wt in fish (<it>Arius maculatus</it>), 45.7 ± 0.86 to 54.4 ± 1.58 Bqkg^-1dry wt in shrimp (<it>Penaeus merguiensis</it>) and 104.3 ± 3.44 to 293.8 ± 10.04 Bqkg^-1dry wt in cockle (<it>Anadara granosa</it>). The variation of Po²¹⁰in organisms is dependent on the mode of their life style, ambient water concentration and seasonal changes. The concentration factors calculated for fish and molluscs were higher than the recommended values by the IAEA. An assessment of daily intake and received dose due to the consumption of seafood was also carried out and found to be 2083.85 mBqday^-1person^-1and 249.30 μSvyr^-1respectively. These values are comparatively higher than reported values in other countries. Moreover, the transformation of Po²¹⁰in the human body was calculated and revealed that a considerable amount of Po²¹⁰can be absorbed in the internal organs. The calculated values of life time mortality and morbidity cancer risks were 24.8 × 10^-4and 34 × 10^-4respectively which also exceeded the recommended limits set by the ICRP.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The findings of this present study can be used to evaluate the safety dose uptake level of seafood as well as to monitor environmental health. However, as the calculated dose and cancer risks were found to cross the limit of safety, finding a realistic way to moderate the risk is imperative.</p

Sex- and age-related differences in the management and outcomes of chronic heart failure: an analysis of patients from the ESC HFA EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

Aims: This study aimed to assess age- and sex-related differences in management and 1-year risk for all-cause mortality and hospitalization in chronic heart failure (HF) patients. Methods and results: Of 16 354 patients included in the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry, 9428 chronic HF patients were analysed [median age: 66 years; 28.5% women; mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 37%]. Rates of use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) were high (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists: 85.7%, 88.7% and 58.8%, respectively). Crude GDMT utilization rates were lower in women than in men (all differences: P\ua0 64 0.001), and GDMT use became lower with ageing in both sexes, at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT prescription; however, age >75 years was a significant predictor of GDMT underutilization. Rates of all-cause mortality were lower in women than in men (7.1% vs. 8.7%; P\ua0=\ua00.015), as were rates of all-cause hospitalization (21.9% vs. 27.3%; P\ua075 years. Conclusions: There was a decline in GDMT use with advanced age in both sexes. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT or adverse outcomes. However, age >75 years independently predicted lower GDMT use and higher all-cause mortality in patients with LVEF 6445%

Sedimentation rates and dating of bottom sediments in the Southern Baltic Sea region

Sedimentation rates and dating of bottom sediments were estimated in two sampling stations of the Gulf of Gdańsk and in four stations in the open sea area. Estimations were based on vertical distributions of 210Pb, 137Cs and 239,240Pu activity concentrations in sediment core samples taken in 1998–2007. Two dating models based on changes of activity concentrations of 210Pbunsup were used: 1) CF:CS (Constant Flux Constant Sedimentation rate-model) and 2) CRS (Constant Rate of Supply-model). 137Cs and 239,240Pu were applied as time markers. 137Cs originates mostly from the Chernobyl accident in 1986, whereas 239,240Pu comes from the global fallout in 1963. The validation of the 210Pb methods was performed by activity peak of 137Cs and 239,240Pu. Sediment accumulation rate (g·cm–2·y–1) was constant along sediment core. Annually accumulated layer, (mm·y–1) decreased with sediment depth in all the locations. In the Gulf of Gdańsk sedimentation rate in the upper layer was about 3.6 mm·y–1, and it decreased in the deeper layers to about 1.1 mm·y–1. Sedimentation rates in the open sea area were lower than in the gulf region and the lowest was observed in the Bornholm Deep, being about 0.95 mm·y–1 in the upper layer and 0.35 mm·y–1 in the deeper layer. The growth of a 5 cm thick layer took 27–37 years in the Gulf of Gdańsk, and 61–105 years in the open sea area. It is suggested that the mean values obtained from the models would give a most reliable estimation of the sedimentation rates

Uranium isotopes in waters and bottom sediments of rivers and lakes in Poland

Activity concentrations of 238U, 234U and 235U were determined in waters and bottom sediments in two main rivers in Poland (the Vistula and Odra rivers) with their tributaries, in four coastal rivers and in six lakes. Concentrations of 238U and 234U were compared with the concentrations of 226Ra determined in another study. As compared with concentrations in coastal rivers and in lakes, enhanced concentrations of the radionuclides were observed in water and bottom sediments in the upper and middle courses of the Vistula river, whereas in the Odra river the enhanced concentrations were present only in the bottom sediments. The enhanced concentrations in the Vistula river result from the discharge of coal mine waters from the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, and they indicate that the discharge was continued. The enhanced concentrations in the Odra river observed only in bottom sediments indicate that the discharge occurred in the past. The 234U/238U ratio for the bottom sediments was close to unity, indicating that these isotopes were close to equilibrium, whereas for water the average ratio was from 1.2 for lakes to 1.5 for the Vistula river, demonstrating the lack of equilibrium