Experimental studies on the biokinetics of Cs-134 and Am-241 in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

The biokinetics of Cs-134 and Am-241 in mussel species contaminated through water pathway has been studied under laboratory conditions. At equilibrium , the concentration factors for Cs-134 and Am-241 in small and large mussel s were 2.80 and 2.57 and 200 and 150, respectively. The concentration facto r of Cs-134 in soft parts of the mussels was significantly high than whole body and shell tissue. However, the concentration factors of Am-241 in soft parts and shell tissue samples were found to have similar rates. The depur ation kinetics of the radionuclides were described by two-component exponen tial models. The biological half-lives at slow components between small and large mussels did not change significant, and were found to be 46.8-46.5 a nd 72.2-75.3 days for Cs-134 and Am-241. The deputation kinetics of Cs-134 and Am-241 in soft parts described a single-component exponential model and the biological half-lives were found to be 29.4 and 41.1 days, respectivel y. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.