Abstract
The major toxicant in water from a retention pond (RP2) at the Ranger Uranium Mine in tropical northern Australia has been identified as uranium. The toxicity of RP2 water (containing 2900–3900 μg/1 uranium) and uranium (200 or 350μg/1) added to the receiving water (i.e. control water) was tested using Hydra viridissima. Significant decreased population growth was obtained after 3 days for both water treatments and hydra from these treatments were observed to have a reduced ability to capture live prey. Examination of the hydra after 3 days exposure using transmission electron muscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis showed accumulations of crystals containing uranium with or without phosphorus. The crystals co-existed with a less electron-dense amorphous material, possibly of a proteinaceous nature. The shape and location of the crystals coincided with the normal location of nematocysts. Developing nematocysts of various types and stages were in adjacent and similar regions and were entirely free of crystals. Other ultrastructural detail appeared to be unaffected by any uranium treatment and showed no presence of uranium crystals. It was concluded that the crystals form in discharged nematocysts. with the protein material possibly being the remnant nematocyst capsule wall.
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