| one publication added to basket [135062] | Concentration and distribution of the Transuranium Radionucleides 239+240Pu, 238Pu and 241Am in Mytilus edulis, Fucus vesiculosus and surface sediment of Esk estuary
Hamilton, E.I.; Clifton, R.J. (1980). Concentration and distribution of the Transuranium Radionucleides 239+240Pu, 238Pu and 241Am in Mytilus edulis, Fucus vesiculosus and surface sediment of Esk estuary. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 3: 267-277
In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. Inter-Research: Oldendorf/Luhe. ISSN 0171-8630; e-ISSN 1616-1599, more
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| Keywords |
Chemical elements > Metals > Transuranic elements > Actinides > Americium
Chemical elements > Metals > Transuranic elements > Actinides > Plutonium
Radioactive isotopes > Radioisotopes
Radioactive waste
Radiography > Autoradiography
Fucus vesiculosus Linnaeus, 1753 [WoRMS]; Mytilus Linnaeus, 1758 [WoRMS]; Mytilus edulis Linnaeus, 1758 [WoRMS]; Pelecypoda [WoRMS]
British Isles, Scotland, North Esk R. [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Hamilton, E.I.
- Clifton, R.J.
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| Abstract |
Concentrations and distributions are reported for 239+240Pu, 238Pu and 241Am in M. edulis, F. vesiculosus and surface sediment from the Esk estuary Cumbria, UK, which is subjected to effluents from the British Nuclear Fuel Ltd uranium reprocessing plant at Windscale, Cumbria. For M. edulis , data was obtained on total soft tissues, shell and for 11 organs and tissues. The distribution of alpha particle activity for thin sections of the mussels was obtained by autoradiography using a new thermoset dielectric detector CR-39. Evidence is presented which indicates that uptake of transuranium radionuclides is probably from seawater rather than from ingested sediment. Pu and Am retained within the intestinal tract is excreted in faeces; that which enters the systemic circulation gives rise to a diffuse distribution. No significant enrichment of Pu and Am occurs in kidney granules, but in the pericardial gland as a result of ultrafiltration processes localised enhanced levels of alpha radioactivity were observed. Highest enrichment of Pu and Am occurs in byssal threads and periostracum, lowest in the shell when the periostracum has been removed. Alpha particle distribution for byssal threads and periostracum is diffuse, hot-spots are absent and hence uptake is probably direct from conservative species present in the seawater. Differences in concentration of Pu and Am for 1977, 1978 and 1979 are described; in 1979 there was an increase in levels of Pu in the mussel and sediment. F. vesiculosus contained more Pu than Am. However, the Am/Pu ratio for F. vesiculosus is similar to that in byssal threads of M. edulis . |
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