[Bioaccumulation of uranium by mussels, Mytilus edulis (L.) collected from the French coasts of the Channel and experimental contamination. Microanalysis by secondary ionic emission].

Abstract

238U+ was detected in Mytilus edulis collected from the Pas-de-Calais and the Baie de Seine. Storage organs were mantle, digestive gland, intestine epithelium and gonad where the highest values occurred. Uranium uptake happened via gill and digestive tractus, and excretion via kidney. Hemocytes played an important part in uptake, storage and excretion of the metal. M. edulis which was shown to concentrate the radionuclide from the marine environment where the metal exists at trace level, is then proposed as an uranium pollution indicator organism.