A study of 110mAg in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

Abstract

Experiments on a simulated terrestrial agricultural ecosystem were carried out using the pot culture approach. The most representative plants in local vegetable gardens were selected to investigate the root uptake of 110mAg. The results show that carrot, kale and flowering cabbage have the largest transfer factor values among the vegetables. Flowering cabbage, as the most popular leafy vegetable in Hong Kong and the South China area, can be used as a biomonitor for radioisotope contamination in vegetables. Soil column and adsorption tests were also carried out to study the leaching ability of the silver isotope in soil and 110mAg was mainly adsorbed in the top 1 cm of soil regardless of the pH value. Experiments on a simulated aquatic ecosystem for freshwater fish and marine organisms were carried out in glass aquaria. The freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio, the marine fish Cuvier and some local abundant seashore molluscs were selected to investigate the kinetic metabolism of 110mAg in the compartmental system. The results show that molluscs absorb 110mAg much more than fish. Clibanarius infraspinatus has the largest concentration factor among the marine organisms selected. Fish liver, although representing a minor portion of the total body mass, shows the highest 110mAg concentration factor, whereas muscle, although representing a major portion of the total body mass, is characterized by an absence of 110mAg.