Distribution of natural radionuclide super(40)K in biotic and abiotic components of the Cauvery River system, Tiruchirapalli, India

Abiotic components like water and sediment, and biotic components such as mussels, fish and grass collected from Cauvery River at Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India were analysed for super(40)K activity. The highest level of super(40)K activity was found in the sediment (342 mBq/g dry weight) and the lowest activity was found in water (2.209 mBq/ml). In the freshwater mussel Parreysia favidens (Benson) super(40)K activity was estimated in the total soft tissues and shells of mussels belonging to three different size groups. Concentration of super(40)K in the mussel was distinctly higher than in the grass Echinochloa colonum (J Koenig) (95 mBq/g fresh weight), and the concentration of super(40)K in the bone of the fish Cirrhina cirrhosa (Bloch) (126 mBq/g fresh weight) was higher than to that of muscle (113 mBq/g fresh weight).