Artificial Mussels: A New Tool for Monitoring Radionuclides in Aquatic Environments

Abstract

Existing methods for monitoring radionuclides in aquatic environments require frequent sampling of a large volume of water, followed by tedious concentration and analytical procedures, which often make it impractical. Mussels have also been commonly employed to monitor radionuclides but bioaccumulation is significantly affected by physical and biological factors. This study explored the feasibility of using the ‘Artificial Mussel’ (AM) as a new tool for monitoring radionuclides in marine environments. We showed that (a) the uptake and accumulation of 238U, 88Sr, and 133Cs by AMs are directly related to their concentration in water, and equilibrium could be reached within 7 to 8 weeks with high concentration factors. Our results suggest that AMs can serve as an effective and practical tool for monitoring radionuclides in the aquatic environment and overcoming the difficulties faced by existing methods in radionuclide monitoring.