Role of different potassium concentrations on accumulation and excretion of radiocaesium in a freshwater fish

The objective of this study is the role of different K+ concentrations in water on radiocaesium accumulation and on the biological half-life, in a freshwater fish, in order of its possible use as a countermeasure. At the temperature of 12 degrees ±2 degrees C the accumulation kinetics at K+ concentrations of 3.5 and 35 ppm are quite similar and CF's at steady state are one order of magnitude lower than with a K+ concentration of 0.35 ppm. Therefore K+ concentration in that range seems not to affect radiocaesium accumulation. The retention experiment lasted for 130 to 260 days and showed increasing radiocaesium excretion rates at increasing K+ concentrations. It is suggested, at least for this temperature, that potassium might be used as a countermeasure in lakes of low potassium content. (author)