Radiation risk assessment of coastal biota from a quasi-Fukushima hypothetical accident in the Mediterranean Sea

The occurrence of the February 6, 2023, earthquake in Turkey was the idea of this research to define a Fukushima-like accident scenario in the Akkuyu nuclear reactor and investigate its radiation effects on the coastal organisms of the Mediterranean Sea. The concentration rate (CR), activity concentration in organisms, internal dose, external dose, and total dose rate were estimated using the ERICA Tool from 137Cs, 134Cs and 131I radionuclides. The minimum and maximum radiocesium CR were calculated at 0.063 Bq kg-1 fresh weight (f.w)/ Bq kg- 1 soil and 4.042 Bq kg- 1 (f.w)/Bq kg- 1 soil dry weight (d.w). Where this value for 131I ranged from 0.005 to 0.295 Bq kg- 1 (f.w)/Bq kg- 1 soil. For mammals-large and arthropods, we calculated the significant internal and external dose rates. All of the estimated dose rates were higher than the ICRP's derived consideration reference levels (10 & mu;Gy h-1).

Automated summary

This research aimed to define a Fukushima-like accident scenario in the Akkuyu nuclear reactor and investigate its radiation effects on the coastal organisms of the Mediterranean Sea. The concentration rate (CR), activity concentration in organisms, internal dose, external dose, and total dose rate were estimated using the ERICA Tool from 137Cs, 134Cs, and 131I radionuclides. Significant internal and external dose rates were calculated for mammals and arthropods. All estimated dose rates exceeded the ICRP's derived consideration reference levels (10 μGy h-1).