Radioiodine in kelp from western Australia
As part of a program to survey low levels of radioactivity in the marine environment of the southern hemisphere, we have studied the distribution and uptake of /sup 131/I found in the subtidal kelp Ecklonia radiata, on the west coast of Australia. Concentrations of 5 to 75 fCi/g of /sup 131/I exist in this species over a considerable distance along the coast. We have characterized the principal source of the /sup 131/I and found a general temporal correlation between the amount of radioiodine discharged from sewer outfalls and its concentration in kelp. Transplant experiments have enabled us to estimate uptake and depuration rates, and our results are consistent with laboratory measurements made by others.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA); Western Australia Univ., Nedlands; Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands (Australia)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 6440161
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-94995; CONF-870430-6; ON: DE87009742
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International conference on methods and applications of radioanalytical chemistry, Kona, HI, USA, 5 Apr 1987; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
IODINE 131
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
AUSTRALIA
BUILDUP
COASTAL WATERS
POLLUTION SOURCES
SEAWEEDS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AUSTRALASIA
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISTRIBUTION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PLANTS
RADIOISOTOPES
SURFACE WATERS
520300* - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1989)