Bioaccumulation of gamma emitting radionuclides in red algae from the Baltic Sea under laboratory conditions

• Main Authors: Tamara Zalewska, Michał Saniewski
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2011-06-01
• Series: Oceanologia
• Subjects: Radionuclides; Marine macroalgae; Bioaccumulation
• Online Access: http://www.iopan.gda.pl/oceanologia/53_2.html#A7

The bioaccumulation ability of radionuclides ⁵¹Cr, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁵⁷Co, ⁶⁰Co, ^65Zn, ⁸⁵Sr, ¹⁰⁹Cd, ¹¹⁰mAg, ¹¹³Sn, <sup>137Cs and ²⁴¹Am in two red algae species from the southern Baltic Sea - <i>Polysiphonia fucoides</i> and <i>Furcellaria lumbricalis</i> - was determined under laboratory conditions. <i>P. fucoides</i> demonstrated better bioaccumulative properties towards most of the investigated radionuclides. As a result, <i>P. fucoides</i> can be recommended as a good bioindicator of radioactive environmental pollution. The bioaccumulation of radionuclides in <i>F. lumbricalis</i> was studied during an extended laboratory experiment. The initial extensive uptake of radioisotopes was followed by the rapid removal of cations; in general, concentrations tended to decrease with time. ¹³⁷Cs displayed a different behaviour, its concentration in the algae increasing over time mainly due to its large ion radius; this is a factor that could be responsible for the stronger mechanical and chemical bonding of Cs⁺ and that could hamper the movement of ions in both directions.