DISTRIBUTION OF
238
Pu AND
239,240
Pu IN AQUATIC
MACROPHYTES FROM A MIDWESTERN WATERSHED
C. W. Wayman, G. E. Bartelt, and J. J, Alberts
Ecological Sciences Section
Radiological and Environmental Research Division
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne, Illinois
ABSTRACT
Aquatic macrophytes were collected in the Great Miami River, Ohio, above
and below Miamisburg and in the cana! and ponds, near the Mound
Laboratory, which contain sediments of a high activity (~103—106 times)
relative to the river sediments. Macrophytes collected in the river below
Miamisburg have higher activities of 238py than those collected from above
the city. Macrophytes from the canal and ponds contain high specific
activities of 238pu and 239,240py with the exception of cattails grown in
the ponds,
Concentration factors are reported and discussed with reference to possible
modes of plutonium accumulation and distribution within the plants.
INTRODUCTION
In following the biological pathways of plutonium in aquatic ecosystems,
it is necessary to examine the primary producers. The concentrations at
this level indicate the trophic availability of plutonium to higher levels in
food chains. It has been shown that aquatic plants accumulate more
plutonium than do successive higher trophic levels (Emery and
Klopfer, 1976, Wayman et al., 1974; Yaguchi et al., 1973a).
The Great Miami River watershed was chosen as the site of plutonium studies
because in addition to atmospheric fallout containing the plutonium
{sotopes which are primarily 2299pu and 249pu, 238pu is released to the
river in low level radioactive waste effluent from Mound Laboratory.
Located adjacent to the river and Mound Laboratory are two small ponds
and a canal which contain elevated levels of 238Pu in the water and sediment as a result of a past incident at the Mound Laboratory (Rogers, 1975).
Preliminary examinations of the plutonium activities in the aquatic biota
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