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Accumulation of Polonium-210 in different species of fish in Lake Mead Dr. Vernon F Hodge , Suraj Ghevarghese John and Shunmugam Nallaperumal University of Nevada Las Vegas College of Sciences

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION METHODS ADMINISTERED DISCUSSION Research on marine organisms, especially in It is important to test different species from the This ( two and two ) Discovered by Pierre and Marie fishes have shown that the internal organs retain lake. Different habitat and feeding habits affect the emitting element contributes ionizing to Skłodowska-Curie in 1898, Polonium is a different chemical compounds of nature that are retention of polonium 210. Fishes are captured many organisms on earth. Since alpha particles with an atomic not particularly utilized by the organism. Naturally from different location and strata. Once captured, are much slower than beta particles, giving rise to number of 84 . This rare naturally occurring radioactive materials are retained in the the internal organs of the captured fishes are greater impulses(6). The penetration depth of occurring radioactive element is internal organs of fishes (2). Among several removed and stored separately in pre-weighed and alpha particles is very small compared to the other chemically similar to and naturally occurring radioactive elements, numbered beakers. The organs are placed on hot .(l) In minute amounts, the radiation is , and forms in . Polonium 210 is the fifteenth nuclide in the chain plates to dry after the wet weights of each of the harmless to organisms. But in high amounts, the Polonium-210 is an naturally occurring produced from the decay of Uranium found in organs are noted. Then the dry weight of the energy released by the decay can potentially radioactive element with a half-life of earth. The decay of uranium produces different samples is noted. The samples are then dissolved cause irreversible damage to the organism . 0.03- 138.376 days(1). This element is found in radioactive elements. Among several of those in nitric . They are then spiked with 1 picocurie 0.04 microCi is the maximum amount of polonium trace amounts in most organisms. Our include Polonium 210. of polonium-209 to act as a reference tracer for the a human body can endure before damage is research is focused on the accumulation Previous research has shown that polonium polonium 210. Once the sample is dissolved by the introduced. of polonium-210 in fish that occupy in accumulates in higher levels in the GI tract of the along with the tracer, we then dilute it Lake Mead. fish indicating that the polonium 210 came from with Hydrochloric acid. A silver disc is then brought RESULTS The sample species is chosen based their diet. Our research will focus on difference in in contact with the which causes all the on varying lake stratification (layers of Since there is not enough data yet on the research, polonium-210 accumulation between species and radioactive material from the sample to transfer to the lake). This gives us a good idea of we are not able to provide any concrete results, why the organs retain Polonium-210 . The results the silver plate. The silver disc is placed in an the difference in polonium-210 amounts, rather we hypothesize on what can be expected. will be useful in trying to find ways to eliminate alpha spectrometer and left overnight. There will based on diet since it tends to change The initial finding from the research will be the polonium-210 from our system (which is be spikes at two different areas in the scale, one with lake stratification. This research will concentration of polonium-210 in fishes from accumulated from pollution and smoking). It has for polonium-210 and one for the tracer polonium- be based on a previous research that different species and strata. This will help us focus been identified that polonium 208-210 is an 209. The data will show the proper energy and the concluded that the polonium 210 is found our efforts on a particular strata and then the ingredient of tobacco and that human lungs retain number of counts on each sample. This is then generally in the internal organs species found in those strata. For example: If the traces of different radioactive elements which divided by the deterioration per minute after especially the Gastro-intestinal tract of results show that the fishes found in the might be a contributing cause to lung (4). If correcting for efficiency of the detector. The result the fish and 97% of polonium acquired Hypolimnion have a higher accumulation of polonium-210 can be removed from organisms is then divided by the dry sample weight. The by fish is from food intake. The results polonium-210, the bottom feeding species found in early in the food chain, its propagation and answer is then compared with the results from the from our research will help identify the lake mead such as carp, bass and catfish will be accumulation in the higher order organisms will be polonium-209 spike to check for flaws when we causes for accumulation and compare looked at for further research on the cause of the avoided. plugged in the numbers. the level of polonium 210 accumulation retention of polonium-210 in their system. in different species based on the strata MATERIALS they are found in . Alpha Spectrometer – Measures the alpha particles emitted from polonium-210 and polonium- CONTACT 209(7).

Dr. Vernon Hodge Polonium -209 – It is an of polonium and in Department of Chemistry this case is spiked into the solution in a known 702-895-3845 quantity. This is done to he tracer, used as a

reference point to compare the sample's polonium http://www.hedley.ca/anatomy_internal.html Shunmugam Nallaperumal 210 levels REFERENCES [email protected] 702-556-6543 Reagents- Nitric acid and Hydrochloric acid , these 1-http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Factsheets/English/polonium reagents dissolve the sample , so it can be spiked 210.html 2--http://www.acsa2000.net/HealthAlert/RadioFood.html Suraj Ghevarghese John with a radioactive tracer. 3-http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/103/m103p251.pdf [email protected], 4- http://en.scientificcommons.org/11331519 Fishes -Local fishes used for the research include 5--http://www.aslo.org/lo/toc/vol_48/issue_3/1193.pdf, 702-202-5164 6-http://whttp://www.fas.harvard.edu/~scdiroff/lds/ Black Bullhead, Crappie, bluegill, Channel Catfish, QuantumRelativity/PenetrationandShielding/Penetrationand

Largemouth Bass, Stripped Bass, Rainbow trout, http://www.ndow.org/fish/where/waters/south/2008/10-LAKE%20MEAD%202008.pdf Shielding.html Smallmouth Bass and green sunfish. 7-http://www.canberra.com/literature/953.asp Poster Design & Printing by Genigraphics® - 800.790.4001