Abstract:
This study aims to determine the radionuclide levels in seafood harvested from Nantong coastal waters and to assess associated health risks from seafood consumption. A total of 26 samples encompassing 10 species were collected in February and March 2022, January and April 2023, January and April 2024, and February and April 2025, including
Palaemon gravieri,
Cynoglossus semilaevis,
Portunus trituberculatus,
Meretrix meretrix,
Larimichthys polyactis,
Neopyropia yezoensis,
Lophius litulon,
Pampus argenteus,
Scomberomorus niphonius, and
Oratosquilla oratoria. The activity levels of
40K,
226Ra,
232Th,
235U,
228Ra,
58Co,
60Co,
110mAg,
134Cs and
137Cs in the samples were analyzed. The changes in radionuclide activity levels across different years were compared, and the committed effective doses and lifetime cancer risks were estimated. The results showed that among the artificial radionuclides, only
137Cs was detected, ranging from 0.017 to 0.132 Bq/kg. A slight increase in
137Cs activity concentration was observed in 2024–2025 compared to 2022–2023. The activity concentration ranges for the natural radionuclides
40K,
228Ra,
232Th,
226Ra, and
235U were 20.20–120.89, 0.06–1.20, 0.06–1.69, 0.03–0.63 and 0.025–0.053 Bq/kg, respectively. The total committed effective doses from ingestion of seafood ranged from 10.15 to 49.01 μSv, with
137Cs contributing less than 0.10%. Lifetime cancer risk from radionuclides in seafood was estimated at 3.05×10
−5 to 5.10×10
−5, which falls within an acceptable range. The lifetime cancer risk from
137Cs ranged from 2.78×10
−8 to 4.46×10
−8, which was considered negligible. From February 2022 to April 2025, the radionuclide activity levels in seafood from Nantong coastal waters remained at background levels. Although the activity of
137Cs showed a slight increase during this period, it remained within the fluctuation range of the national radiation environmental quality monitoring results in 2022. This increase may be related to species-specific bioaccumulation factors for
137Cs. Continuous monitoring, with careful control of species types and sizes, is recommended. Furthermore,
228Ra was identified as a significant contributor to the internal dose from ingestion of these radionuclides. Overall, as of April 2025, the health risk from consuming seafood harvested from Nantong’s coastal waters is low.