Activity of Polonium (210Po) and Suspended Solid Materials Interaction in Some Pelagic Fish in Batang Waters

As an archipelagic country, Indonesia has a vast maritime area and biodiversity. This makes the Indonesian government often campaign for the fish-eating movement to all its people. However, few people know what is contained in the fish they eat daily, especially fish caught in waters near the Steam Power Plant (SPP). The lack of literature regarding the levels of ²¹⁰Po in economically important pelagic fish in Indonesia resulted in a study aimed at determining the activity concentration of ²¹⁰Po in several economically important pelagic fish species in the waters of Batang and its relationship with several secondary parameters. The analytical method used in this study followed IAEA–MEL guidelines. The results of the activity concentration of ²¹⁰Po in barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), blue spot mullet (Valamugil seheli), mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta), ribbonfish (Trichiurus savala), and barread queenfish (Scomberoides lysan) were 6.09, 12.84, 2.04, 45.86, and 33.29 Bq/kg, respectively. The highest value of ²¹⁰Po activity was found in the ribbonfish, likely influenced by its habitat, with the radionuclide entering the fish's body dominantly through the food chain. ²¹⁰Po readily binds to selenium and proteins in the fish, with correlation (R²) values of 0.683 and −0.633, respectively. High turbidity or high levels of suspended solids materials (SSM) around the SPP inhibits the accumulation of ²¹⁰Po on proteins, leading to a negative relationship between the two parameters. The ²¹⁰Po activity in these five pelagic fish species is still classified as safe for consumption, as it is below the quality standard set by the Indonesian Nuclear Energy Regulation Agency. The concentration of ²¹⁰Po in the fish did not show a significant relationship with water currents. This research provides useful data on the current level of ²¹⁰Po activity, a toxic radionuclide in fish living near Batang's SPP, and can serve as baseline data for future monitoring.