Radionuclides and trace elements in centipede species Scolopendra cingulata from Serbia

Abstract

The adults of centipede Scolopendra cingulata from Serbia have been analyzed for 214Bi, 137Cs, 228Ac, 40K, 212Pb and 214Pb activity. The top 5 cm of soil from the same locations (Novi Pazar, Izbice and Pčinja) is also measured—to estimate upper limit of the soil–S. cingulata radionuclide transfer factors (i.e., S. cingulata/soil concentration ratios), as well as the total dose rate—external and internal exposure. Cesium-137 activity was found to be below (or equal to) minimum detectable activity in all 16 specimens. The highest measured 214Bi activity was 0.1 Bq g−1, while 228Ac—0.086 Bq g−1, 40K—0.12 Bq g−1, 212Pb—0.012 Bq g−1 and 214Pb—0.029 Bq g−1. Bismut-214 transfer factors are found to range from <0.34 to 6, as 228Ac—from <0.4 to 3, whilst the total dose rate is found to be less than 18 μGy h−1. The As, Se, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, but also Zn and Fe concentrations—in three individuals, were also determined. All the elements showed concentrations in the Pčinja S. cingulata significantly lower than in S. cingulata from Novi Pazar and Izbice.