title: Ecosystem uptake and transfer of Sellafield-derived radiocarbon (14C). Part 1. The Irish Sea.
abstract: Ecosystem uptake and transfer processes of Sellafield-derived radiocarbon (14C) within the Irish Sea were examined. Highly variable activities in sediment, seawater and biota indicate complex14C dispersal and uptake dynamics. All east basin biota exhibited14C enrichments above ambient background while most west basin biota had14C activities close to background, although four organisms including two slow-moving species were significantly enriched. The western Irish Sea gyre is a suggested pathway for transfer of14C to the west basin and retention therein. Despite ongoing Sellafield14C discharges, organic sediments near Sellafield were significantly less enriched than associated benthic organisms. Rapid scavenging of labile,14C-enriched organic material by organisms and mixing to depth of14C-enriched detritus arriving at the sediment/water interface are proposed mechanisms to explain this. All commercially important fish, crustaceans and molluscs showed14C enrichments above background; however, the radiation dose from their consumption is extremely low and radiologically insignificant.
authors.affiliation: Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Rankine Avenue, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, East Kilbride, G75 0QF, Scotland, UK; The Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban PA37 1QA, Scotland, UK. Electronic address: graham.muir@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Graham K P
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Muir
authors.affiliation: Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Rankine Avenue, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, East Kilbride, G75 0QF, Scotland, UK; The Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban PA37 1QA, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Kieran M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.affiliation: Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Rankine Avenue, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, East Kilbride, G75 0QF, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Gordon T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Rankine Avenue, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, East Kilbride, G75 0QF, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: MacKinnon
authors.affiliation: The Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban PA37 1QA, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.affiliation: The Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban PA37 1QA, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Johanna J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Heymans
authors.affiliation: The Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban PA37 1QA, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Rankine Avenue, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, East Kilbride, G75 0QF, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D003445:Crustacea / Q000737:chemistry; D017753:Ecosystem; D005399:Fishes / Q000254:growth & development; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D007494:Ireland; D008974:Mollusca / Q000737:chemistry; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive
keywords: Biotic uptake; Irish Sea; Radiocarbon ((14)C); Seawater; Sediment; Sellafield