Abstract

  In many Swedish lakes, the fallout of 137Cs from the Chernobyl accident in April 1986 has largely accumulated in the sediments. The availability and transfer of deposited 137Cs to biota is influenced by factors such as resuspension. The frequency of resuspension and the 137Cs-content of different fish species was studied in three shallow lakes in Uppland, central Sweden, and in one deeper lake in northern Sweden. Resuspension was measured by the use of sediment traps. Sedimentation rates measured from the traps in the shallower lakes were 5-10 times higher than normal for this type of lake, indicating that resuspension was an important factor. The decrease of the 137Cs-content in muscle tissue of pike, perch and roach was slow in each of the shallow lakes. 137Cs decreased by about 30% over a period of 2 years in the shallowest lake (maximum dept 4 in), whereas 137Cs decreased by 50% in the deeper lakes (maximum depth 10 in). The slower rates of decline of 137Cs in biota from the shallow lakes, are probably a function of sediment dynamics (mainly influenced by lake morphometry, wind direction and strength). They may be influenced, also, by bioavailability of resuspended sediment material. In the deepest northern lake, much of the 137Cs-containing material collected in the sediment traps originated from the catchment area. Resuspension was minimal, and the high activity of 137Cs in the sediment had no effect on content or decline of 137Cs in lake fish.

Keywords: 137Cs, freshwater, sediment traps, resuspension, sediment, fish