Experimental determination of concentration factors of Ni, Ru and Sb in the phytoplankton species Phaeodactylum Tricornutum

Abstract

This paper describes the experimental determination of concentration factors (CF) for nickel, ruthenium and antimony in phytoplankton. Better determinations of these CF are, according to sensitivity studies and a literature search, needed to improve the modelling of marine ecosystems at release points and predictions of radiation dose to humans. Nutrient-enriched water samples from Swedish coastal waters are used as a medium for growing of the diatom species P. Tricornutum and radiotracers are used for determination of CF in the laboratory. Conservative estimates of these CF based on the present data are 6 400 L/kg for nickel, 20 000 L/kg for ruthenium and 890 L/kg for antimony, with phytoplankton masses referring to dry weight.