Radioactivity level in the marine ecosystem

Major factors contributing to the degrading of the Black Sea environment are pollution and improper use of natural resources. By monitoring the radioactivity in the Romanian sector of the Black Sea we can establish the concentration levels of radionuclides in the marine ecosystem and their capacity to self cleaning, also to correlate the influence of the riverine load and the biogeochemical processes. Radioactivity indicators have special location in the environmental quality state, mainly due to anthropic influence. Our research has been developed under a national program and the recommendations of the International Convention to Protect Black Sea against Pollution. Samples of the sediments, water and macro algae, molluscs and fish have been collected by network station, between Danube mouths and Vama Veche. Beta and gamma measurements have been done. Cs-137 is a radionuclide with radioecological significance. His concentration level in marine components is between some tens of Bq/m3 (water) and one-two hundreds Bq/Kg dry (submerged sediments). The paper presents radioanalytical details. (author)