Ion microscopes and microprobes in marine pollution research

Abstract

Secondary-ion mass spectrometry (ion microscope and ion microprobe) and x-ray spectrometry (electro microprobe) are used to identify elements taken up from sea water by marine organisms. Several species of fish, molluscs and crustacea are shown to accumulate lithium, aluminium, silver, lead, rare-earth elements, uranium and plutonium. The main storage tissues are the digestive tract and the exoskeleton. Sphrerocrystals and lysosomes play prominent roles in metal accumulation and elimination.