Dependence of 210Po activity on organic matter in the reverine environs of coastal Kerala

This paper deals with the distribution of 210Po in the river bank soil samples of three major rivers namely Bharathapuzha, Periyar and Kallada river of Kerala. The dependence of 210Po activity on organic matter content in the samples was also studied. The soil samples were collected and analyzed for 210Po radionuclide using standard radiochemical analytical method. Activity of 210Po increases with increase in organic matter content in samples. Along the Bharathapuzha river bank the 210Po activity ranges from 2.96 to 12.48 Bq kg-1 with mean 5.62 Bq kg-1. The organic matter percentage in the samples ranges from 0.4 to 2.8 and a good correlation with correlation coefficient 0.9 was found between activity and organic matter percentage. In the Periyar river environs 210Po activity ranges from 3.47 to 13.39 Bq kg-1 with mean value 9.27 Bq kg-1. Organic matter percentage in these samples ranges from 1.20 to 4.10 and the correlation coefficient between 210Po activity and organic matter percentage was found to be 0.8 In the Kallada river bank soil samples 210Po activity ranges from 4.46 to 6.45 Bq kg-1. The organic matter percentage ranges from 1.4 to 3. The correlation coefficient between 210Po activity and organic matter percentage in the samples was found to be 0.9. (author)