Occurrence of plutonium and americium in plaice from the north-eastern Irish Sea

A preliminary report is presented on Pu and Am in plaice caught during 1975 from the sea in the vicinity of the UKAEA Windscale nuclear fuel reprocessing plant. The analytical method used is described in detail, and results are shown tabulated. The highest Pu concentrations were found in the kidneys and the gut. The 241Am concentrations were in general higher than those of Pu. Analysis included gonad tissues. In view of the fluctuating discharges it is evident, however, that a steady state body burden will not exist for fish caught near the pipeline. Some data are given for concentration factors over sea water. The data obtained indicate very low Pu and Am levels in the edible parts of the fish from the area most liable to contamination. (U.K.)