What's really in sea water? More than just salt!

Recent studies by scientists at ANSTO, have revealed some startling discoveries about what really constitutes the water in our neighbouring oceans.

It appears that it carries a complex cocktail of common elements such as sodium and calcium, heavy metals such as cadmium and lead, organic matter such as decaying algae and plankton faeces, and radioactive elements such as potassium, polonium and uranium. Would you choose to swim in it?

"Our investigation of the occurrence of the natural radioisotope lead-210, which decays to polonium-210, has surprised marine scientists," says ANSTO Marine Scientist, Ron Szymczak.

"We believe our results show that the levels of these radioactive constituents can be used to interpret how the occurrence of trace elements in the ocean varies depending on the environment. This may have significant ramifications for our understanding of natural processes in the oceans, and how different areas of the ocean will react to changes in climate and pollutant discharges."

The ongoing research, being carried out throughout the South Pacific, is investigating complex interactions between different types of plankton, naturally-occurring radioisotopes and trace elements. Effectively, this work shows how biology in the ocean can influence the distribution of elements and vice versa.

Item provided courtesy of ANSTO