Transfer of americium-241 from food and water to organs and tissues of the crucian carp

The transfer of transuranium element americium-241 (Am-241) from food and water to organs and tissues of freshwater fish (Carassius auratus gibelio, crucian carp) has been investigated in laboratory experiments. The fishes were fed with homogenized biomass of submerged macrophytes labeled with Am-241, through catheter. For the first two days after force-feeding, fishes excreted up to 80% of ingested americium, for four days - 98%. Am-2(41) was registered in internal organs and tissues that had no direct contact with americium (liver, bones, muscles) as early as two days after the feeding and after eight days, when the digestive tract was depurated. Among internal organs, the highest activity concentration was recorded in the liver (up to 427 Bq/kg). Activity concentration in bones (19-31 Bq/kg) was several times higher than in muscles, indicating the affinity of americium to bone tissue. Assimilation of Am-241 in organs and tissues of crucian carp from water occurred mainly via the digestive tract too.