Spatial distribution of fallout 137Cs in the coastal marine environment of India

The data on the fallout 137Cs 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 137Cs 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 137Cs 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). - Highlights: ► Benchmark value of 137Cs in coastal environment of Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. ► International reference source of 137Cs in coastal marine environment of India. ► In-situ pre-concentration technique for measurement of 137Cs. ► Comparison of 137Cs Indian coastal data with ASPAMARD.