Temporal variations of iodine-127, potassium-40 and technetium-99 concentrations in Fucus serratus in the English Channel

Seasonal variation of technetium-99 in Fucus vesiculosus and its application as an oceanographic tracer

“…A similar trend of 99 Tc concentration in seaweed has also been reported (Holm et al, 1986). The observed variation trend of 99 Tc concentrations is similar as the reported variation of the concentrations of iodine-127 ( 127 I) and potassium-40 ( 40 K) in Fucus serratus (Patti et al, 1990), although the extent of variation of 99 Tc concentrations is smaller than that of 127 I and 40 K. Several factors including the variation of the temporal discharges of 99 Tc from reprocessing plants, biological processes (cycle) in seaweed (metabolical process), and environmental processes such as dilution of 99 Tc in contaminated seawater by uncontaminated water, might affect 99 Tc concentration in seaweed and result in seasonal fluctuation of 99 Tc concentration.…”

“…Concentrations of elements in plants are usually related with biological processes such as plant growth (Patti et al, 1990). Accordingly, the concentration of 99 Tc might decrease during fast growth of seaweed in warm conditions, causing a lower concentration of 99 Tc in summer.…”

“…According to the studies by Calmet and Patti. (1987) and Patti et al (1990), the concentrations of 99 Tc in Fucus serratus show a significantly seasonal variation with higher concentrations in winter and lower concentrations in summer. To this point, if the seasonal variation of 99 Tc in seaweed is a common phenomenon, and is controlled by biological metabolism of the seaweed, a correction for seasonal variation of concentration factor should be carried out while investigation on the time series of 99 Tc in seawater, otherwise unreliable conclusions and misinterpretations might be given.…”

Radionuclides in the Kongsfjorden area, Svalbard

“…Seasonal variations in radionuclide levels were also observed at other locations. [23] observed radionuclide concentrations in seaweed (Fucus serratus) finding a seasonal cycle for iodine, potassium-40 and "Tc in the English channel.…”

Radioactivité d'origine naturelle dans l'environnement en France : niveaux non perturbés par l'homme

“…Pour les plantes aquatiques, la prédominance du 40K est encore plus accentuée notamment chez les algues (Lambrechts et al, 1992 ;Patti et al, 1990). La réponse spécifique des espèces vis-à-vis de la rétention des radioéléments naturels est à nouveau illustrée par les écarts de concentration en 2i0Pb d'un facteur 7 à 8 existant entre les roseaux et les ajoncs d'une part et les mousses aquatiques d'autre part.…”