Nuclear reprocessing-related radiocarbon (14C) uptake into UK marine mammals

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

卷:124

Article

Tierney, Kieran M.^1,2  Muir, Graham K. P.^1,2  Cook, Gordon T.¹  Heymans, Johanna J.²  MacKinnon, Gillian¹  Howe, John A.²  Xu, Sheng¹  Brownlow, Andrew³  Davison, Nicholas J.³  ten Doeschate, Mariel³  Deaville, Rob⁴ 

[1] Scottish Univ, Environm Res Ctr, Rankine Ave,Scottish Enterprise Technol Pk, E Kilbride G75 0QF, Lanark, Scotland

[2] Scottish Assoc Marine Sci, Scottish Marine Inst, Oban PA37 1QA, Argyll, Scotland

[3] SRUC Vet Serv, Scottish Marine Anim Stranding Scheme, Drummondhill,Stratherrick Rd, Inverness IV2 4JZ, Scotland

[4] Zool Soc London, Inst Zool, Regents Pk, London NW1 4RY, England

关键词: Marine mammals;    Radiocarbon (C-14);    Nuclear reprocessing;    Sellafield;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.07.002

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

To evaluate the transfer of Sellafield-derived radiocarbon (C-14) to top predators in the UK marine environment, C-14 activities were examined in stranded marine mammals. All samples of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) obtained from the Irish Sea showed C-14 enrichment above background. Mammal samples obtained from the West of Scotland, including harbour porpoise, grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) showed C-14 enrichment but to a lesser extent. This study demonstrates, for the first time, enriched C-14 is transferred through the marine food web to apex predators as a consequence of ongoing nuclear reprocessing activities at Sellafield. Total Sellafield C-14 discharge activity 24 months prior to stranding and, in particular, distance of animal stranding site from Sellafield are significant variables affecting individual C-14 activity. C-14 activities of West of Scotland harbour porpoises suggest they did not forage in the Irish Sea prior to stranding, indicating a high foraging fidelity.

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