A passive equilibrium probe, sonic-assisted free ion recorder (SAFIR), was recently developed to monitor free Cu ion activity ({Cu(2+)}) in aquatic environments. The SAFIR is user-friendly and can be deployed on-site to record the ambient {Cu(2+)} in an accurate and fast manner. It consists of a chemically modified polystyrene disk (Primaria disk) containing metal ion-binding functional groups, coupled with a sonic horn in a flow-through cell. The calibration of the disk was successfully conducted in metal-ion buffered seawater solutions (pH 8.2, salinity = 32) with {Cu(2+)} ranging from 10(-9.0) to 10(-15.0) mol/L. The Cu adsorbed on the surface of the Primaria disk (Cu(ads)) correlated linearly with the ambient {Cu(2+)} through a Frendlich equilibrium adsorption model. The adsorption process was kinetically enhanced by the introduction of ultrasound, allowing equilibrium between the SAFIR and the ambient {Cu(2+)} in 10 min. The SAFIR was deployed in several coastal regions, and the {Cu(2+)} recorded by SAFIR were in good agreement with the results obtained from corresponding electrochemical analysis.

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134 Cs and 137 Cs concentrations in thyme product in different locations of West Anatolia in Turkey have been determined after the Chernobyl accident during 1986-1988. The highest accumulation of Cesium radionuclides were found in coastal areas of West Anatolia.The distribution of 134 Cs and 137 Cs in roots, stem and leaves was investigated in Origanum vulgare ssp. The present data set supports the view that the cesium uptake by plant was due to the foliar absorption rather than via the roots.The natural depuration rates of 137 Cs in Thymus sipyleus ssp are estimated as biological half-lives varying from 151 to 172 days.

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