Routes of plutonium uptake and their relation to biomagnification in starfish |
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| Authors: | Jean-Claude Guary Scott W Fowler Thomas M Beasley |
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| Institution: | 2. School of Oceanography, Oregon State University, Marine Science Center, Newport, OR 97365, USA |
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| Abstract: | The distribution of 239 + 240Pu and 238Pu in environmental samples of starfish tissues is identical to the tissue distribution observed in experimental animals following uptake of plutonium directly from water. Plutonium in sea water has a strong affinity for the mucus-rich epidermal layer of starfish which contributes substantially to the relatively high levels of this transuranium nuclide measured in these invertebrates. Transfer of plutonium to starfish via food also occurs; however, the resultant tissue distribution is not consistent with that found in the natural environment where plutonium is available from both contaminated food and water. These data suggest that food chain biomagnification of plutonium by starfish does not occur in nature as has been previously hypothesized. |
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