Studies on the effect of radioactive Co-60 on the survival, Growth and fecundity of some fresh water snails

The present work includes investigations on the effect of a certain radioisotope namely 60 Co on survival, growth, egg production and hatch ability of laboratory and field populations of certain common fresh water gastropod snails namely Bulinus truncates audouin, Biomphalaria alexandrina (Ehrenberg) and physa acute draparnaud. Survival of laboratory bred snails at different concentrations of Co l l was also investigated in order to reveal its toxicity aside of its isotope 60 Co. The accumulation rate of cobalt by adult laboratory bred snails was examined as a function of time. Moreover, the degree of release of the accumulated cobalt by treated snails was subsequently examined in different decontaminating solutions in addition to normal water. Results obtained show that gamma radiation emitted from 60 Co has affected , to variable degrees, the survival of the examined snails (both field and laboratory populations), decreased their egg production and markedly reduced the hatch ability of their eggs. Sterilization of laboratory bred snails was observed after about 3,3 and 2 weeks from immersion in 5.55 K.Bq/ml solution for B.truncatus, B . alexandria and P. acuta respectively