Biosorption of technogenic radionuclides by the Barents Sea littoral algae Fucus vesiculosus L.

The authors have conducted laboratory experiments to study the ability of the Barents Sea brown alga Fucus vesiculosus L. to adsorb technogenic radionuclides from seawater of various salinity (8, 18 and 35 psu). They have obtained new data on the role of macroalgae communities in the geodynamics of radionuclides in the coastal zone of the seas. Fucuses are able to adsorb 40—80% of the radionuclide activity from water. The maximum intensity of adsorption is observed during the first day of exposure. The alga most effectively absorbs 152Eu, 241Am, 65Zn, 54Mn from water. The possibility of using the alga as a sorbent in biobarriers in incidents with emergency discharges of radioactivity into the sea is shown.