Whole-body Retention of ⁶⁰Co Incorporated into a Seaweed in Rats

Abstract

The objective of this study is to compare whole-body retention in the rat of radiocobalt incorporated into a marine green alga with that of ⁶⁰Co in inorganic form. Ulva pertusa was incubated in aerated seawater containing ⁶⁰Co under fluorescent lamp for 7 days. The radioactive seaweed was homogenated and was given to rats via a stomach tube. The control group of rats was given ⁶⁰CoCl₂ with homogenate of non-radioactive seaweed. Whole-body retention of the radionuclide was determined by in vivo counting of the living animal. The result revealed that rats absorbed and retained much more ⁶⁰Co incorporated into the seaweed than ⁶⁰CoCl₂. This fact should be taken into account in the estimation of internal dose due to radiocobalt released into marine environment.