High accumulation of 210Po concentration in muscle tissue and hepatopancreas gland organs of Asian green mussel (Perna viridis) at the coastal area of Binh Thuan, Vietnam: Radiological protection perspectives

Van-Hao Duong; Thanh-Xuan Pham-Thi; Trung-Tien Chu; Thanh-Nam Nguyen; Tue Nguyen Tai; Dung Luu Viet; Van-Dung Nguyen; Thi-Lan Tran; Van-Khanh Nguyen; Marckasagayam Priyadharshini; Mohamed Saiyad Musthafa; Obid Tursunov; Hue Nguyen Thanh Kim

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118348

High accumulation of ²¹⁰Po concentration in muscle tissue and hepatopancreas gland organs of Asian green mussel (Perna viridis) at the coastal area of Binh Thuan, Vietnam: Radiological protection perspectives

Mar Pollut Bull. 2025 Jun 26:219:118348. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118348. Online ahead of print.

Affiliations

¹ VNU School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
² Faculty of Biology, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Biological Museum, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
³ Key Laboratory of Geo-environment and Climate Change Response, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Faculty of Geology, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
⁴ Faculty of Geology, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
⁵ Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
⁶ Institute of Geological Sciences, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
⁷ The University of Danang - University of Science and Education, Da Nang, Viet Nam.
⁸ Unit of Research in Radiation Biology & Environmental Radioactivity (URRBER), P.G. & Research Department of Zoology, The New College (Autonomous), Affiliated to University of Madras, Chennai 600 014, Tamil Nādu, India.
⁹ Department of Power Supply and Renewable Energy Sources, National Research University TIIAME, 39 Kari Niyazov, Tashkent 100000, Uzbekistan; Bioenergy and Environment Science & Technology Laboratory, College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Haidian District, Beijing 100107, China; College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shihezi University, Beisi Road, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832000, PR China.
¹⁰ Environment and Sustainable Development Research Group, Dong Nai Technology University, Bien Hoa City, Viet Nam; Faculty of Technology, Dong Nai Technology University, Bien Hoa City, Viet Nam. Electronic address: nguyenthanhkimhue@dntu.edu.vn.

PMID: 40577980
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118348

Abstract

²¹⁰Po (polonium) has high radiotoxicity that tends to accumulate in marine bivalves inhabiting coastal zones with elevated background levels of primordial radionuclides. In this study, the ²¹⁰Po concentration in two organs of the Asian green mussel (Perna viridis), collected from the coastal region of Binh Thuan, Vietnam, was determined using alpha spectrometry. The results showed a significant difference in ²¹⁰Po activity concentration between the two organs of P. viridis, with markedly higher concentrations observed in the hepatopancreas gland compared to the muscle tissue, approximately six times greater. The mean ²¹⁰Po activities were 74.9 ± 7.8 Bq·kg^-1 (range: 30.3 ± 16.7 to 111 ± 10.6 Bq·kg^-1) in muscle tissue and 431 ± 7.8 Bq·kg^-1 (range: 187 ± 8 to 763 ± 7 Bq·kg^-1) in the hepatopancreas. This marked difference may be attributed to the affinity of ²¹⁰Po for certain proteins such as ferritin and metallothionein. The elevated accumulation of ²¹⁰Po in two organs may be linked to its filter-feeding behavior, its diet of plankton and organic particles, its biological characteristics, and local environmental conditions (relating to the titanium mining). Insignificant correlations were observed between ²¹⁰Po concentrations and shell length, total body mass, or estimated age of the mussels. This suggests that mussels of any size, age, or weight can serve as suitable sampling organisms for environmental biomonitoring programs targeting marine ²¹⁰Po contamination. Radiological risk assessment using the ERICA tool indicated negligible ecological impact of ²¹⁰Po on marine biota in the study area, except for sample group 15, which exhibited a Risk Quotient (RQ) of 1.00 and a total dose rate of 10 μGy·h^-1, equivalent to the screening reference level. This suggests that ²¹⁰Po activity in the body may have a potential impact on this mussel species. Annual committed effective doses from dietary intake of mussels, particularly from the hepatopancreas, exceeded the recommended dose limit of 1 mSv·y^-1 in most cases. This study provides essential baseline data for radiological protection and environmental monitoring along the Vietnamese coastline. The findings emphasize the necessity for targeted radiation risk management strategies and reinforce the utility of Asian green mussel as a reliable biomonitor of ²¹⁰Po contamination in tropical marine ecosystems.

Keywords: (210)Po; Asian green mussel; Binh Thuan coastal; Bivalve; ERICA; Radiological risk.