THE ACCUMULATION OF Cs$sup 137$ BY BRACKISH WATER INVERTEBRATES AND ITS RELATION TO THE REGULATION OF POTASSIUM AND SODIUM
Relations between the ability of brachish water invertegrates to regulate Na and K and the extent to which the radioactive fission product Cs/sup 137/ can be accumulated were studied. The blackish water isopod Sphaeroma hookeri and the gastropod Potamopyrgus jenkinsi wer acclimatized to a wide range of sea-water dilutions. Uptake of K/sup 42/, and Cs/up 137/ from solution was examined in both species over a range of sea-water concentrations. All the body K is exchangeable with K/sup 42/, and in Sphaeroma, exchange of K/ sup 42/ between the blood and tissues is so rapid that the body surface appears to be the limiting factor in the uptake of the isotope. Both species exchange K/ sup 42/ more rapidly in the higher concentrations of sea water; one reason for this may be the existence of an exchange diffusion component of exchange that increases as the salinity of the medium is raised. Indirect evidence suggests that the excretion of K/sup 42/ in urine is probably not an important factor in exchange. The behavior of Cs/sup 137/ generally resembles that of K/sup 42/ although some tissues rather than the body surface are probably the limiting factor in uptake. In Sphaeroma, Cs/sup 137/ equilibrium concentration factors for whole animals are roughly double the values for inactive K as a result of blood/medium and tissue/blood ratios for Cs/sup 137/ exceeding those for inactive K. Equilibrium Cs/sup 137/ concentration factors in Sphaeroma vary from about 7 in 100% to 200-300 in 2.5% sea water. Potamopyrgas attains higher concentration factors for Cs/sup 137/ than inactive K in 100, 25, and 5% sea water but at lower concentrations the factors are below those for inactive K. In 100% sea water, Potamopyrgas reaches a Cs/sup 137/ concentration factor of about three while in 0.1% sea water, a factor of about 300 is reached. It is suggested that in accumulating Cs/sup 137/ to high levels in dilute media, brackish water species are potentially much more hazardous for human consumption than marine species. For this reason, introduction of radioactive reactor wastes containing Cs/sup 137/ into waters of low salinity should be avoided. (BBB)
- Research Organization:
- Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, Eng.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-18-003463
- OSTI ID:
- 4141120
- Journal Information:
- J. Marine Biol. Assoc. U. K., Vol. Vol: j3; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-64
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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