90Sr, 210Pb, 210Po and Ra isotopes in marine macroalgae and mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis from the Bulgarian Black Sea zone

90Sr, 210 Pb, 210Po and Ra isotopes were determined in macroalgae Ceramium rubrum, Cystoseira crinita, Ulva rigida, Cladophora vagabunda, Enteromor- pha intestinalis and in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis collected from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Radio- chemical separation was made by a fast and reproducible procedure based on a calcium phosphate precipitation technique. The obtained results for macroalgae vary in the interval 0.23–0.85 Bq kg-1 for 90Sr, 2.2–10.6 Bq kg-1 for 210Pb, 1.2–9.7 Bq kg-1 for 210Po and 1.9–13.2 Bq kg-1 for Ra isotopes. Data obtained for mussels demonstrate similar abilities in the accumulation of 90Sr, 210Pb and Ra isotopes

Cesium and strontium in Black Sea macroalgae

The trace level of metals and particularly radioactive ones should be monitored to evaluate the transfer along the trophic chain, assess the risk for biota and can be used for global changes assessment. Plants respond rapidly to all changes in the ecosystem conditions and are widely used as indicators and pre- dictors for changes in hydrology and geology. In this work we represent our successful development and applications of a methodology for monitoring of stable and radioactive strontium and cesium in marine biota (Black Sea algae’s). In case of radioactive release they are of high interest. We use ED-XRF, gamma spectrometers and LSC instrumentation and only 0.25 g sample. Obtained results are compared with those of other authors in same regions. The novelty is the connection between the radioactive isotopes and their stable elements in algae in time and space scale. All our samples were collected from Bulgarian Black Sea coast

Could atmospheric carbon be driving sedimentation?

Purpose: The objective of this study was to provide insights into the most recent responses of sediments to climate change and their capability to sequester atmospheric carbon (C). Methods: Three sediment cores were collected, one from the western Black Sea, and two from the southern Adriatic Sea. Cores were extruded and sectioned into 1 cm or 0.5 cm intervals. Sections were frozen, weighed, freeze-dried, and then weighed again to obtain dry weights. Freeze-dried samples were dated by using lead 210 (210Pb) and cesium 137/ americium 241 (137Cs/241Am). Organic and inorganic C were determined by combustion. Particle size distribution was determined using a Beckman Coulter particle size analyzer (LS 13,320; Beckman Coulter Inc.). Mineralogical analyses were carried out by a Philips X’Pert powder diffractometer. Results: Sedimentation and organic and inorganic C accumulation rates increased with time in both the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea. The increase in accumulation rates continued after the global introduction in the early 1970s of controls on the release of phosphorus (P) into the environment and despite the reduced sediment yield of major rivers (Po and Danube). Therefore, the increased accumulation of organic and inorganic C in the sediments cannot be assigned only to nutrient availability. Instead, we suggest that the increase in organic C is the consequence of the increase in atmospheric C, which has made more carbon dioxide (CO2) available to phytoplankton, thus enabling more efficient photosynthesis. This process known as CO2 fertilization may increase the organic C accumulation in sediments. Simultaneously, the increase of sea temperatures decreases the calcite solubility resulting in increases of the inorganic C accumulation. Conclusion: Our results suggest that long-term, general increases in accumulation rates of organic and inorganic C in sediments are the consequence of increases in atmospheric C. This shows that coastal sediments play an important role in C uptake and thus in regulating the Earth’s climate