Publication Abstract

Title: Variability in the edible fraction content of 60Co, 99Tc, 110mAg, 137Cs and 241Am between individual crabs and lobsters from Sellafield (north eastern Irish Sea).

Publication Abstract: Variability in the edible fraction content of ⁶⁰Co, ⁹⁹Tc, ^110mAg, ¹³⁷Cs and ²⁴¹Am between individual crabs and lobsters from Sellafield (north eastern Irish Sea)

D J Swift and M D Nicholson

We investigated the variability in anthropogenic radionuclide content of the edible fractions of individual edible crabs (Cancer pagurus L.) and European lobsters (Homarus gammarus L.) caught commercially in the Sellafield offshore area. Sixteen female and 18 male crabs and 20 female and 17 male lobsters were selected from commercial catches made between 25 May and 5 June 1997. Each gender group was selected to be within the known weight range for commercially caught crustacea from the area. Four artificial radionuclides (⁶⁰Co, ^110mAg, ¹³⁷Cs or ²⁴¹Am) were detected by spectrometry. The edible fraction content of these radionuclides between males and females for either species were not statistically significantly different. ⁹⁹Tc was analysed by chemical separation and counting. ⁹⁹Tc concentrations in female crabs tended to be higher (172±205 (16) Bq kg^-1(wet); mean±standard deviation (n samples)) than those in males (85±58 (18) Bq kg^-1 (wet)), although this was not a statistically significant difference. For both male and female crabs, ⁹⁹Tc concentrations tended to decrease with increasing whole live weights. For ⁹⁹Tc in lobsters the picture is less clear. Female lobsters contained more activity (14800±7400 (20) Bq kg^-1 (wet)) than males (7100±3900 (17) Bq kg^-1 (wet)). The results were used to discuss the implications for sampling and monitoring.

Reference:

D J Swift and M D Nicholson, 2001. Variability in the edible fraction content of ⁶⁰Co, ⁹⁹Tc, ^110mAg, ¹³⁷Cs and ²⁴¹Am between individual crabs and lobsters from Sellafield (north eastern Irish Sea). Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 54(3): 311-326.

Publication Internet Address of the Data

Publication Authors: D J Swift* and M D Nicholson*

Publication Date: January 2001

Publication Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 54(3): 311-326

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/

Publication Abstract

Variability in the edible fraction content of 60Co, 99Tc, 110mAg, 137Cs and 241Am between individual crabs and lobsters from Sellafield (north eastern Irish Sea)

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Variability in the edible fraction content of ⁶⁰Co, ⁹⁹Tc, ^110mAg, ¹³⁷Cs and ²⁴¹Am between individual crabs and lobsters from Sellafield (north eastern Irish Sea)