Concentration and Distribution of Uranium in Mytilus edolis and Associated Materials

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Abstract
Concentration and distribution of U in the mussel M. edulis are described for sampling sites in the UK near and distant from sources of nuclear effluents; the data reflect natural availability from the marine environment, any effect attributable to the proximity of nuclear effluent discharges being minimal. With the exception of U associated with food and particulate materials present in the digestive organs, the highest levels were associated with byssal threads, the periostracum and excretory organs. The tanning process associated with the development of byssal threads involves U which has a special affinity for SS-SH and disulfide groups in organs. The lowest concentrations of U were found in the periostracum-free shell. Depuration experiments demonstrated that after a fairly rapid loss of U from the digestive glands, that which remains within organs and tissues is retained and is associated with the surfaces of organs and tissues. In the sediments U is enriched in the finer fraction, but no evidence for an excessive enrichment arising from nuclear effluents was observed.

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