Interaction of radionuclide 131I and cadmium chloride in an alternative bioassay with Artemia franciscana evaluated by a digital record

Abstract

The interaction of radionuclide 131I and cadmium chloride was investigated by an alternative bioassay using the crustaceans Artemia franciscana. Fifty individuals were placed in each Petri dish. Due to radiation protection, evaluation of the experiment was performed using digital recordings taken by a camera. In the group containing a cadmium solution with an added radionuclide with a volumetric activity of 32 MBq·l-1, the lethality was significantly lower than in the group containing only a cadmium solution of 0.250 mmol·l-1. In the cadmium solution group and higher volumetric activity of radionuclide 131I (370 MBq·l-1), the lethality was significantly higher than in the control group, which demonstrated a synergistic effect. It was found that lethality was lower in the group containing only radionuclide 131I with a volumetric activity of 138 MBq·l-1 than in the control group. This result supports the theory of radiation hormesis.