ACCUMULATION OF RADIONUCLIDES BY AQUATIC INSECTS
A survey was made on the accumulation of radionuclides by aquatic insects in the section of the Columbia River that is within the Hanford Reservation in southeastern Washington. More than 60 different radioisotopes have been identified in the aqueous effluents that are continuously discharged into the Columbia River from some of the Ranford Reactors. About 20 of them have been measured in river organisms. Insects living in the river below the reactor ouifalls were found to be many times more radioactive than the water they inhabit. The most abundant radionuclides in insects were Pa/sup 32/, Cu/sup 64/, Cr/sup 51/ , Zn/sup 64/, an d Na/sup 24/. Interspecies differences in radionuclides accumulation are influenced by ecological and metabolic factors. The most important factors influencing radionuclide accumulation by different species were found to be food habits, biological half-lives of the elements, and seasonal variation in feeding. Typical accumulation factor patterns are presented for a number of immature and adult aquatic insects and also for plankton. (C.H.)
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland Wash.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(45-1)-1350
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-005702
- OSTI ID:
- 4739774
- Report Number(s):
- HW-SA-2848
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS IN AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL ORGANISMS EXPOSED TO REACTOR EFFLUENT WATER
Thermal tolerance of aquatic insects inhabiting the Tennessee River-Reservoir system