Americium adsorption on the surface of macrophytic algae

Abstract

Data are presented on the rates at which americium (Am) deposits upon blade surfaces of three benthic algal species ( Ulva rigida, Fucus vesiculosus and Gigartina stellata) following short-term exposures (1–6 h). Am is taken up in direct proportion to the ambient radionuclide concentration in sea water. Uptake by the green alga was 3 to 5 times greater than that for the brown and red species. Experimental evidence indicated that Am accumulation is a passive process and that adsorption takes place mainly on the thin outer organic coating of the seaweed. The Am transport coefficients (0·9–4·1 × 10− 5 Bq cm− 2 s− 1 per Bq ml− 1 sea water) are quite similar to that previously found for the naturally occurring α-emitter 210Po, but are an order of magnitude lower than a plutonium transport coefficient reported in the literature. Release of labelled extracellular products associated with the algal surface coating is considered to be responsible for the rapid loss of Am observed previously in macroalgae and may in fact serve as a mechanism for transferring Am to filter feeding zooplankton.