Accumulation of Th, Pb, U, and Ra in marine phytoplankton and its geochemical significance

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1987.32.1.0131· OSTI ID:6401714

Fisher, N S; Teyssie, J L; Krishnaswami, S; Baskaran, M

The bioaccumulation of U, Th, Ra, and Pb in four diverse nanoplanktonic algal species and a picoplanktonic blue-green alga was determined with radiotracers. Among the nanoplankton, differences of 1-2 orders of magnitude in volume/volume concentration factors (VCFs) were observed for a given nuclide, but larger differences were observed among the four nuclides, with VCF values of Th > Pb > Ra approx. U. The picoplankton cells, with greater surface:volume ratios, had significantly higher VCF values. The mean VCF values in the nanoplankton of Th and Pb were 1.5 x 10/sup 5/ and 3.6 x 10/sup 4/ in the light and 2.8 x 10/sup 4/ in the dark. The VCFs of Th and Pb in the picoplankton were both about 2 x 10/sup 6/, irrespective of light. Retention half-times of /sup 228/Th and /sup 210/Pb in fecal pellets of Artemia salina, fed radiolabeled diatoms, were 20-50 d, but > 120 d for /sup 228/Th at 4/sup 0/C. The results suggest that sinking plankton and their debris could account for most of the natural series radionuclides sedimenting out of oceanic surface waters.

• Research Organization: International Lab. of Marine Radioactivity, Monaco
• OSTI ID: 6401714
• Journal Information: Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States), Vol. 32:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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