Uptake of cesium-134 by the earthworm species Eisenia foetida and Lumbricus rubellus

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620150608· OSTI ID:264298

Janssen, M P.M.; Glastra, P; Lembrechts, J F.M.M. ^[1]

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1. National Inst. of Public Health and Environmental Protection, Bilthoven (Netherlands). Lab. of Radiation Research

The uptake processes of {sup 134}Cs in two earthworm species were investigated as well as the effect of temperature on these processes. The results show that equilibrium concentrations in the two species differ by 1.5- to fivefold. Equilibrium concentrations range from 367 to 963 Bq g{sup {minus}1} in Lumbricus rubellus and from 920 to 1,893 g{sup {minus}1} in Eisenia foetida; biological half-lives range from 56 to 119 h and 52 to 64 h, respectively. Assimilation was two to four times higher in E. foetida and elimination rate one to two times higher in E. foetida than in L. rubellus. Further, the results show that temperature may affect the {sup 134}Cs concentration in these earthworms by a factor of 1.4 to 2.1 between 10 and 20 C, depending on the species. The maximum difference found within one species was a factor of 2.6. Their results show no clear effect of temperature on the assimilation, but a small negative effect on elimination, resulting in an increasing biological half-life and concentration factor with higher temperatures.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 264298
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 15; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ANNELIDS
BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY
BIOLOGICAL HALF-LIFE
CESIUM 134
GENETIC VARIABILITY
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
SOILS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
UPTAKE