BEHAVIOUR OF TECHNETIUM IN THE MARINE BENTHIC ENVIRONMENT

Objectif

A PLURIDISCIPLINARY WORK ON THE BEHAVIOUR IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT SHALL BE MADE BY THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF BELGIUM, THE CONTRACTANT LABORATORY, IN COLLABORATION WITH SEVERAL RESEARCH UNITS LOCATED IN LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE, LIEGE AND MOL. THESE UNITS HAVE COMPLEMENTARY COMPETENCES, WHICH ARE NEEDED TO BRING THE PROJECT TO A SUCCESSFUL ISSUE. BY JOINT EFFORT, IT IS INTENDED TO ATTAIN TWO MAIN GOALS:
1) TO CAREFULLY INVESTIGATE THE INTERACTION OF TECHNETIUM WITH THE PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS (WATER, SUSPENDED MATTER, SEDIMENTS, MICRO- AND MACRO-BIOTA) OF THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THOSE OF THE BELGIAN COAST;
2) TO PRODUCE DATA WHICH, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, COULD BE USED IN A MATHEMATICAL MODEL CONCEPTUALIZED FOR PREDICTING THE FATE OF TECHNETIUM, AFTER ITS RELEASE INTO THE SEA.
Technetium binding in sediments, seawater and marine organisms has been studied and a mathematical model has been developed allowing simulation of the behaviour of technetium in the marine environment of the Belgian coast. A metabolic process seems responsible for technetium concentration by marine bacteria in which it binds mainly to a high molecular weight cellular constituent.
THE CAPABILITY OF NORTH SEA SEDIMENTS OF FIXING TECHNETIUM SHALL BE EXAMINED UNDER VARIOUS EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS. MOREOVER, THE ROLE OF MICROORGANISMS AS WELL AS OF ORGANIC MATTER IN THE FIXATION PROCESS SHALL BE CAREFULLY EXAMINED. IT IS INTENDED, ALSO, TO ISOLATE FROM THE SEDIMENTS BACTERIAL SPECIES, CAPABLE OF FIXING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF TECHNETIUM. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TECHNETIUM INCORPORATION AND N2-FIXATION WOULD BE INVESTIGATED MORE THOROUGLY, IF SUITABLE SPECIES ARE AVAILABLE. STERILIZATION AND SELECTIVE EXTRACTIONS (SEDIMENTS), AND AUTORADIOGRAPHY (MICROORGANISMS) SHALL BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE. IN ADDITION, PHYTOPLANCTON SPECIES (MAINLY PHAEODACTYLUM TRICORNUTUM AND SKELETONEMA COSTATUM), UNICELLULAR (ACETABULARIA ACETABULUM AND BOERGESENIA FORBESII) AND PLURICELLULAR (FUCUS SPIRALIS AND ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSUM) ALGAE SHALL CONSTITUTE THE EXPERIMENTAL MATERIAL FOR STUDIES ON THE FIXATION, DISTRIBUTION, RETENTION AND TRANSFER OF TECHNETIUM TO HIGHER TROPHIC LEVELS. RADIOCHEMICAL ANALYSES OF FUCUS SPIRALIS COLLECTED ALONG THE BELGIAN COAST, SHOULD INDICATE THE LEVELS OF TECHNETIUM PRESENT IN YOUNG (APICAL PARTS) AS WELL AS IN OLD TISSUES (BASAL STALK). SINCE MARINE ALGAE, LIKE HIGHER PLANTS, ARE PHOTOSYNTHETIC ORGANISMS, THE FIXATION OF TECHNETIUM SHALL BE STUDIED UNDER LIGHT AND DARK CONDITIONS, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS INHIBITORS.
SEVERAL MARINE ANIMALS (WORMS, MOLLUSCS AND FISHES) SHALL BE CONTAMINATED DIRECTLY (BY TC-99 OR TC-95M-PERTECHNETATE) OR INDIRECTLY (BY TECHNETIUM LABELLED FOODS) CONCOMITANTLY BY SOME OF THE PARTICIPATING LABORATORIES. THE SEA MUSSEL MYTILUS EDULIS SHALL PROVIDE A GOOD EXPERIMENTAL MATERIAL FOR SETTING UP A LABORATORY MODEL SYSTEM FOR INVESTIGATIONS ON TECHNETIUM UPTAKE AND METABOLISM. STUDIES ON METALLOTHIONEIN-LIKE SUBSTANCES SHALL BE PURSUED IN MOLLUSCS. IN ADDITION, THE INTERACTION OF TECHNETIUM WITH OTHER CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS SHALL BE EXAMINED. SINCE CADMIUM IS KNOWN TO BE AN INDUCER OF METALLOPROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN ANIMALS, THE INTERACTION OF THIS ELEMENT WITH TECHNETIUM FIXATION BY ANIMAL AND PLANT CELLS WOULD BE WORTH STUDYING.
FINALLY, EXPERIMENTAL FOOD CHAINS SHALL BE USED TO ASSESS THE TRANSFER OF TECHNETIUM AND THE POSSIBLE HAZARD TO MAN. THE CO-ORDINATE EXPERIMENTAL WORK SHALL BE REALIZED WITH VARIOUS CLASSICAL TECHNIQUES, BELONGING TO SUCH FIELDS AS SEDIMENTOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY, PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, ZOOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, MODELLING, ETC. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT VARIOUS TECHNIQUES USED IN MODERN RESEARCH ON CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (AUTORADIOGRAPHY, CHROMATOGRAPHY, ELECTROPHORESIS, ETC.) SHALL BE USED IN CARRYING OUT THE PROJECT.

Champ scientifique

Programme(s)

FP1-RADPROT 6C - Multiannual research and training programme (Euratom) in the field of radiation protection, 1985-1989

Thème(s)

Data not available

Appel à propositions

Data not available

Régime de financement

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinateur

INSTITUT ROYAL DES SCIENCES NATURELLES DE BELGIQUE

Contribution de l’UE

Aucune donnée

Adresse

RUE VAUTIER,29
1040 BRUSSELS
Belgique

Coût total