Ability Of Some Black Sea Organisms To Accumulate Fission Products

The coefficients of accumulation of strontium-90, cesium-137, and cerium-144 in seaweeds, eelgrass, actinia, mollusks, and crustaceans are presented. The discharge of strontium-90 into sea water from decomposing seaweed and the retention and additional absorption of cesium-137 and cerium-144 onto organic debris is discussed. Some observations are made about the ability of these elements to diffuse into sea water and about the relative hazard to man from strontium-90 and cerium-144 in marine life.