Polonium-210 and lead-210 in Antarctic marine biota and sea water

Tabulated data are presented on the concentrations of the naturally occurring radionuclides, polonium-210 and lead-210, in krill (Euphausia superba), mesozooplankton, phytoplankton, and sea water in the Antarctic ocean in autumn 1984. The concentrations of polonium-210 in mesozooplankton and phytoplankton were similar to those reported for other oceans, but the concentrations in E. superba were higher than those usually found in euphausiids. This was attributed to a change from an almost entirely phytoplanktonic diet in summer to a more omnivorous diet with the onset of winter. The limited sea water data showed an unusually high polonium-210:lead-210 activity ratio. There are 47 references.