Abstract
Coastal distribution in the northern hemisphere 131I originating from Chernobyl was estimated using standard gamma spectrometric techniques on samples of the intertidal seaweed, Fucus. In May and June 1986 synchronized Fucus spp. collections were made from several locations around the world with emphasis on the northeast Pacific shores. The large-scale patterns of 131I specific activity was consistent with prevailing tropospheric wind conditions. In British Columbia and Washington State, specific activity correlated significantly and positively with precipitation. A detailed study of a Fucus population in Vancouver, British Columbia, suggested that plants became contaminated by rain-borne 131I during periods of emergence. This population had detectable levels of 131I for about 40 d, and a bio-elimination half-period of 10.3 d.
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Communicated by R. W. Doyle, Halifax
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Druehl, L.D., Cackette, M. & D'Auria, J.M. Geographical and temporal distribution of iodine-131 in the brown seaweed Fucus subsequent to the Chernobyl incident. Marine Biology 98, 125–129 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392667
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392667