https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-025-01641-9
Regular Article
The neutron activation analysis in studying the elemental ratios in marine mussels for assessment of the ecological characteristics
1
Division of Nuclear Physics, Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, FLNP Sector NAA & Applied Research, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia
2
School for Science and Technology, Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
3
Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului Str. MG-6, Bucharest, Magurele, Romania
Received:
20
June
2024
Accepted:
23
April
2025
Published online:
13
May
2025
The content of 24 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, V, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Sb, I, Cs, Th, and U) was determined using neutron activation analysis in shells and soft tissues of mussels, collected from Namibia to Mozambique in the period 2013–2019. To assess the influence of low saline waters, special lithogenic structure of the coast and local wastewater discharges the mussel sets from the Black Sea and Saldanha Bay water areas were considerate as well. The As/Sc ratios in soft tissues could be used for indication of anthropogenic runoff regarding the terrigenous compounds. The ratios of elements in shell per soft tissue could be useful for demonstration of long-period accumulation in comparison with the short period. The Mg/Ca ratio in shells of mussels from the West coast was significantly higher in comparison with the samples from East coast indicated local hydrophysical features. Cl/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios in shells can indicate the salinity levels in surrounding waters. Na/Ca revealed higher levels of Na due to intensification of the river runoff on East coast. This agreed with the non-volatile Sc/Ca levels. The comparison of elemental levels in shells with respect to soft tissue (S/ST ratios) was discussed as useful indicator of temporary deposition rates of elements intake from soft tissue to shells. In general, such elements as Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Cs, and U revealed low S/ST levels, with the several exceptions, while Ca, V, Br, Sr, I, and Th showed high incorporation ratios (S/ST > 1) in several temporal cases, indicated the typical high levels of these elements in surrounding waters during the long period of accumulation. The wide range of S/ST ratio of I in mussels from the close bays indicated the seasonal fluctuations due to changes in hydrological structure and terrigenous runoff.
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Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
