The accumulation of radioactive caesium from food by the plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) and the brown trout (Salmo trutta)

The patterns of accumulation of caesium-137 from food by the tissues and organs of a marine teleost, the plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) and a freshwater teleost, the brown trout (Salmo trutta) are described and compared. Estimates of the biological half-times and steady-state concentrations are derived and individual organ intakes calculated. Rate constants are similar to those obtained from the accumulation from water studies. Plaice gut and liver have an 11 % increase and trout gut a 6 % increase in their share of the [137Cs] intake arising from accumulation from food, compared with that arising from the accumulation from water. These increases were balanced by decreases in the muscle share of the intake. The overall absorption of [137Cs] from food was 42% for plaice and 67% for trout.