Analytical methods to determine 210Po and 210Pb in marine samples

This paper describes the methods of sampling, preconcentration, chemical separation and final count of 210Po and 210Pb present in different marine matrices to determine their background levels in a marine ecosystem. Complex, time consuming and selective radioanalytical methods have been used to prepare final clear sources for alpha spectrometry and beta count; in fact, gamma spectrometry, a method direct and non destructive, cannot be taken into account because the 210Pb activity is very low which does not allow to carry out sufficiently accurate measurements and 210Po is not a gamma emitter but it emits only alpha particle at 5.40 MeV. The results of 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations obtained in different marine samples collected in the first two campaigns are still very few to discuss about the 210Po and 210Pb behavior in marine environment.