Study on the abundance of rare earth elements in marine organisms.

Abstract

The abundance of rare earth elements in marine organisms has been determined by use of activation analysis. The lanthanum contents in bone, scales, shell, gills and dorsal fins of fish were found to be 10-5-10-7 g/g of wet weight ; the internal organs such as the stomach, heart, intestines, etc., were 10-8 g/g (wet) ; and the muscle showed the smallest value, 10-9 g/g (wet). Other rare earth elements also, i. e., praseodymium, samarium, europium, dyprosium and holmium were found in marine organisms. The general trend of most of the rare earth elements in marine organisms is toward concentrating in the bone structure.