$sup 137$CCs and $sup 40$K in the flesh of Pacific albacore, 1964--1974
Concentrations of $sup 137$Cs in the flesh of albacore tuna caught off the California coast during the last 10 yr decreased by a considerably smaller factor than did corresponding values reported for atmospheric fallout. Between 1965 and 1974, average tissue concentrations decreased steadily from 90 to approx 40 pCi/wet kg, which suggests an effective half-time for $sup 137$Cs in the upper layer of the eastern North Pacific of about 1 decade. Values for natural $sup 40$K, which was measured at the same time, averaged 3300 pCi/wet kg. The 1965 mean concentrations of $sup 137$Cs in albacore from four widely separated fisheries in the Northern Hemisphere agreed within a factor of two, ranging from 50 to 90 pCi/wet kg. In contrast, specimens from South Pacific fishery based at American Samoa averaged only 14 pCi/wet kg. Surface seawater collected around Tutuila Island averaged 0.085 pCi/l. $sup 137$Cs, in good agreement with measurements made a year later over a much wider area of the South Pacific. No large variations in flesh concentrations of $sup 137$Cs or $sup 40$K were observed as a function of tuna size, species, portion of the body sampled, or cooking. Thus, radioanalysis of canned tuna may be an efficient method of following major changes in $sup 137$Cs contamination of upper layers of the world ocean. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, El Segundo
- NSA Number:
- NSA-33-009286
- OSTI ID:
- 4136913
- Journal Information:
- Health Phys., v. 29, no. 5, pp. 689-694, Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-76
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Biomedical aspects of natural and manufactured environmental radioactivity
Cesium-137 in deer: Savannah River Plant vs. southeastern coastal plain herds
Related Subjects
520302* -Environmental Sciences
Aquatic-Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-Aquatic Ecosystems & Food Chains
*CESIUM 137- RADIATION MONITORING
*POTASSIUM 40- RADIATION MONITORING
*TUNA- RADIOACTIVITY
PACIFIC OCEAN
TIME DEPENDENCE
TISSUES