HISTO-AUTORADIOGRAPHIC LOCALIZATION OF AMERICIUM IN THE TISSUES OF THE SCALLOP PECTEN-MAXIMUS LABELED FROM SEA-WATER - PRELIMINARY-STUDY ON THE TRANSFER MECHANISMS

The uptake of americium from sea water in the tissues of the scallop Pecten maximus and its intracellular localization have been studied by histo-autoradiography. The highest concentrations were found in the visceral mass where americium is present in the stomach wall cells, in the duct cells and in the digestive cells, in particular in the residual bodies. In view of these data, it is suggested that the penetration of Am into the tissues occurs mainly by the digestive pathway when the contaminating vector is the sea water.