Cesium accumulation by fish following acute input to lakes: a comparison of experimental and Chernobyl-impacted systems

Title: Cesium accumulation by fish following acute input to lakes: a comparison of experimental and Chernobyl-impacted systems

Author:Pinder J E 3rd, Hinton T G, Whicker F W, Smith J T

Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 100 (6), p.456-467, Jun 2009

doi:  10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.03.004

Keywords:¹³⁷Cs;¹³³Cs;Fish;Uptake rates;Loss rates;Maximum concentrations;Pond 4;Chernobyl

Abstract: An uptake parameter u (L kg⁻¹ d⁻¹) and a loss rate parameter k (d⁻¹) were estimated for the patterns of accumulation and loss of ¹³³Cs by three fish species following an experimental ¹³³Cs addition into a pond in South Carolina, USA. These u and k parameters were compared to similar estimates for fish from other experimental ponds and from lakes that received ¹³⁷Cs deposition from Chernobyl. The maximum Cs concentrations in fish were largely determined by initial Cs concentrations in the water column. These maximum concentrations in fish and the times required to reach these maxima are potentially useful indicators for assessments of risks to humans from fish consumption.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X09000411