Alpha-radioactive isotopes in the marine environment.
Various marine organisms collected from southern hemisphere waters around Cape Town were analysed by radiochemistry and alpha-spectrometry for Pu-239, 240. Many of these organisms were also analysed for Pu-238, Po-210 and - those isotopes of thorium and uranium that are alpha-emitters. In some samples an estimate of the Ra-226 content was also made. The Pu-239 concentrations are compared with the values reported in the literature for similar organisms found in the northern-hemisphere and an attempt is made to relate the differences in concentration to differences in the quantity of fall-out Pu-239 delivered to the sea-surface in the two hemispheres. Within the limits of experimental error it appears that the Pu-239 content of recent fall-out is reflected in the Pu-239 concentration in many marine organisms.
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