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137Cs, 40K, 238Pu, 239+240Pu and 90Sr in biological samples from King George Island (Southern Shetlands) in Antarctica

137Cs, 40K, 238Pu, 239+240Pu and 90Sr in biological samples from King George Island (Southern Shetlands) in Antarctica
137Cs, 40K, 238Pu, 239+240Pu and 90Sr in biological samples from King George Island (Southern Shetlands) in Antarctica
There are few data reported on radionuclide contamination in Antarctica. The aim of this paper is to report 137Cs, 90Sr and 238,239+240Pu and 40K activity concentrations measured in biological samples collected from King George Island (Southern Shetlands, Antarctica), mostly during 2001–2002. The samples included: bones, eggshells and feathers of penguin Pygoscelis papua, bones and feathers of petrel Daption capense, bones and fur of seal Mirounga leonina, algae Himantothallus grandifolius, Desmarestia anceps and Cystosphaera jacquinotii, fish Notothenia corriceps, sea invertebrates Amphipoda, shells of limpet Nacella concina, lichen Usnea aurantiaco-atra, vascular plants Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis, fungi Omphalina pyxidata, moss Sanionia uncinata and soil. The results show a large variation in some activity concentrations. Samples from the marine environment had lower contamination levels than those from terrestrial ecosystems. The highest activity concentrations for all radionuclides were found in lichen and, to a lesser extent, in mosses, probably because lichens take up atmospheric pollutants and retain them. The only significant correlation (except for that expected between 238Pu and 239+240Pu) was noted for moss and lichen samples between plutonium and 90Sr. A tendency to a slow decrease with time seems to be occurring. Analyses of the activity ratios show varying fractionation between various radionuclides in different organisms. Algae were relatively more highly contaminated with plutonium and radiostrontium, and depleted with radiocesium. Feathers had the lowest plutonium concentrations. Radiostrontium and, to a lesser extent, Pu accumulated in bones. The present low intensity of fallout in Antarctic has a lower 238Pu/239+240Pu activity ratio than that expected for global fallout.
Radioactive contamination, Antarctic, Plutonium, 137Cs, 90Sr
0722-4060
1081-1089
Mietelski, J.W.
0a7d1345-81a8-4264-8eba-d320741ec28e
Olech, M.A.
0886ad76-3066-4eae-a504-1c5e42ebd9bf
Sobiech-Matura, K.
80c2b233-2ce7-4220-be58-5e4cc4feb9b5
Howard, B.J.
612803f0-446e-4f00-8250-0576d4259996
Gaca, P.
3d23473d-db81-436a-a12d-ad707db4abc8
Zwolak, M.
7c30977a-7b17-4188-939e-a2ada17025ee
Błażej, S.
ffd1c250-d33b-40cb-aee4-fd570a74f6d4
Tomankiewicz, E.
f6cb087d-3014-4ee0-9c23-337adc786a37
Mietelski, J.W.
0a7d1345-81a8-4264-8eba-d320741ec28e
Olech, M.A.
0886ad76-3066-4eae-a504-1c5e42ebd9bf
Sobiech-Matura, K.
80c2b233-2ce7-4220-be58-5e4cc4feb9b5
Howard, B.J.
612803f0-446e-4f00-8250-0576d4259996
Gaca, P.
3d23473d-db81-436a-a12d-ad707db4abc8
Zwolak, M.
7c30977a-7b17-4188-939e-a2ada17025ee
Błażej, S.
ffd1c250-d33b-40cb-aee4-fd570a74f6d4
Tomankiewicz, E.
f6cb087d-3014-4ee0-9c23-337adc786a37

Mietelski, J.W., Olech, M.A., Sobiech-Matura, K., Howard, B.J., Gaca, P., Zwolak, M., Błażej, S. and Tomankiewicz, E. (2008) 137Cs, 40K, 238Pu, 239+240Pu and 90Sr in biological samples from King George Island (Southern Shetlands) in Antarctica. Polar Biology, 31 (9), 1081-1089. (doi:10.1007/s00300-008-0449-5).

Record type: Article

Abstract

There are few data reported on radionuclide contamination in Antarctica. The aim of this paper is to report 137Cs, 90Sr and 238,239+240Pu and 40K activity concentrations measured in biological samples collected from King George Island (Southern Shetlands, Antarctica), mostly during 2001–2002. The samples included: bones, eggshells and feathers of penguin Pygoscelis papua, bones and feathers of petrel Daption capense, bones and fur of seal Mirounga leonina, algae Himantothallus grandifolius, Desmarestia anceps and Cystosphaera jacquinotii, fish Notothenia corriceps, sea invertebrates Amphipoda, shells of limpet Nacella concina, lichen Usnea aurantiaco-atra, vascular plants Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis, fungi Omphalina pyxidata, moss Sanionia uncinata and soil. The results show a large variation in some activity concentrations. Samples from the marine environment had lower contamination levels than those from terrestrial ecosystems. The highest activity concentrations for all radionuclides were found in lichen and, to a lesser extent, in mosses, probably because lichens take up atmospheric pollutants and retain them. The only significant correlation (except for that expected between 238Pu and 239+240Pu) was noted for moss and lichen samples between plutonium and 90Sr. A tendency to a slow decrease with time seems to be occurring. Analyses of the activity ratios show varying fractionation between various radionuclides in different organisms. Algae were relatively more highly contaminated with plutonium and radiostrontium, and depleted with radiocesium. Feathers had the lowest plutonium concentrations. Radiostrontium and, to a lesser extent, Pu accumulated in bones. The present low intensity of fallout in Antarctic has a lower 238Pu/239+240Pu activity ratio than that expected for global fallout.

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Published date: August 2008
Keywords: Radioactive contamination, Antarctic, Plutonium, 137Cs, 90Sr

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 64022
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/64022
ISSN: 0722-4060
PURE UUID: 7adc56b0-cff6-4e5d-a4f3-e3f16a93dfd2

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Date deposited: 25 Nov 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 11:45

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Contributors

Author: J.W. Mietelski
Author: M.A. Olech
Author: K. Sobiech-Matura
Author: B.J. Howard
Author: P. Gaca
Author: M. Zwolak
Author: S. Błażej
Author: E. Tomankiewicz

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