Water hardness determines 226Ra uptake in the tropical freshwater mussel

Publication date: June 2017
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 172
Author(s): Che Doering, Andreas Bollhöfer
Chemical data for freshwater mussels (Velesunio spp.) and water from 15 sampling sites in the Alligator Rivers Region and Rum Jungle uranium provinces in tropical Northern Australia were analysed to develop a predictive model of radium-226 (²²⁶Ra) bioaccumulation for variable water calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations. Application of the model as a ²²⁶Ra screening approach for freshwater mussels in tropical waterbodies potentially impacted by operational or remediated uranium mine sites is discussed in relation to Mudginberri Billabong, located approximately 12 km downstream of Ranger uranium mine in the Alligator Rivers Region.



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