Bioavailability of trace contaminants ({sup 241}Am, {sup 57}Co, {sup 137}Cs) to a benthic bivalve from pore waters and sediments
- State Univ. of New York, Stony Brook, NY (United States). Marine Sciences Research Center
Sediments are major repositories of contaminants in marine ecosystems and can serve as a source of some contaminants for benthic organisms. The authors used the clam Macoma balthica, a species employed in monitoring coastal contamination, to compare experimentally three uptake sources: overlying water, ingested surface sediment and anoxic pore water. They studied the bioavailability of selected radionuclides ({sup 241}Am, {sup 57}Co, {sup 137}Cs) representing a large range of particle reactivity. For comparison, the authors also used CH{sub 3} {sup 203}Hg, which is highly assimilated by marine organisms. Clams were exposed separately to contaminated overlying water, surface oxic sediment and anoxic sediment. Radioactivity in animals was determined at the end of the exposure period. {sup 137}CS, which is not particle reactive in seawater, was not bioaccumulated from any source. {sup 241}Am and {sup 57}Co concentration factors in clams obtained from overlying water were approximately an order of magnitude lower than that of CH{sub 3} {sup 203}Hg. Ingested oxidized sediment particles do not appear to be a significant source for these radionuclides. {sup 241}Am, {sup 57}Co and CH{sub 3} {sup 203}Hg were bioconcentrated from anoxic pore waters, but the highly particle-reactive {sup 241}Am was mostly adsorbed onto the clam`s shell. The bioconcentration of CH{sub 3} {sup 203}Hg from pore waters was, however, only one tenth of that from overlying water.
- OSTI ID:
- 458312
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-961149-; TRN: 97:006858
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 17. annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: partnerships for the environment - science, education, and policy, Washington, DC (United States), 17-21 Nov 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of SETAC 17. annual meeting -- Abstract book. Partnerships for the environment: Science, education, and policy; PB: 378 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Evaluation of the anthropogenic radionuclide concentrations in sediments and fauna collected in the Beaufort Sea and northern Alaska
Geochemical influences on assimilation of sediment-bound metals in clams and mussels