Transport of 210Po and 210Pb in the Kali, Sharavathi and Netravathi river ecosystems of coastal Karnataka

The concentration of 210Po and 210Pb has been measured by the chemical deposition method in surface water samples from the major rivers of coastal Karnataka: Kali, Sharavathi and Netravathi. Measurements of 210Po and 210Pb in surface water from these rivers are important because river water is the main source of potable water in this region due to inadequate supply of treated water. The mean activity of 210P0 and 210Pb in the surface water of Kali is respectively 1.28±0.2 and 1.37±0.2 Bq I-1, that for Sharavathi is 1.30 ± 0.2 and 1.44 ± 0.2 Bq l-1 and for the Netravathi it is 1.00 ± 0.2 and 1.22 ± 0.2 Bq l-1. From the measured concentration of 210Po and 210Pb, the internal committed effective dose (CED) to the population of the study region was calculated. The activity ratio of 210Po and 210Pb and correlation between the activities of these radionuclides were studied and the internal CED to the population of the study region is also discussed in this communication. (author)