Determination of cesium and potassium in marine species by neutron activation analysis

Abstract

Cesium and potassium were determined in muscle-tissues of squid, dover sole, albacore, and bocaccio by NAA. Potassium was measured instrumentally, while cesium was radio-chemically separated. For the separation of cesium, hydrated antimony pentoxide (HAP) was used to retain24Na, and ammonium molybdophosphate (AMP) was used to absorb quantitatively the radiocesium,134mCs. The cesium and potassium contents were based on measuring the short-lived radionuclide of cesium, 2.90 h-134mCs, and 12.4 h-42K. The mean concentrations of cesium found, based on 3–4 replicate measurements for each fish, were: 4.18±0.32 ng/g squid, 11.51±0.30 ng/g dover sole, 43.64±1.03 ng/g albacore, and 56.85±3.61 ng/g bocaccio. The mean concentrations of potassium found were: 1.28±0.10 mg/g squid, 2.78±0.29 mg/g dover sole, 3.69±0.06 mg/g albacore, and 4.18±0.10 mg/g bocaccio.