Dr. Vincent Ko Chi-chiu left Dr. Yang Yi center and Dr. Rudolf Wu Shiu-sunWu Shiu-sun demonstration of the device that three Hong Kong universities have developed. PHOTO EdUHK HONG KONG - Artificial mussels AMs can effectively measure low concentrations of radionuclides in the sea, offering a low-cost solution as worldwide concern over the pollution of radioactive wastes in the ocean rises, according to a cross-institutional study in Hong Kong.
The study, conducted by the Education University of Hong Kong EdUHK, the City University of Hong Kong, and the University of Hong Kong, highlights a technology that can be utilized as a reliable and effective solution for assessing radioactive contamination globally.
The AMs, which were invented by Professor Rudolf Wu Shiu-sunWu Shiu-sun of the Department of Science and Environmental Studies at EdUHK over a decade ago, have a remarkable ability to soak up a variety of metals, and therefore can be used to measure the concentration of metallic pollutants in the marine environment.
unlike conventional methods, AMs does not necessitate gathering hundreds of liters of seawater for concentration and analysis, resulting in reduced manpower and cost for sampling and pre-treatment. The cost of each AM is just $1, making it capable of long-term and large-scale monitoring of nuclear waste.
As of today, AMs have been in use in 29 countries and regions worldwide, the EdUHK said in a press release.
The risks posed by nuclear wastes to marine ecology and human health cannot be underestimated, said Wu. The device can play a role in safeguarding environmental and food safety, as it offers authorities worldwide a practical and cost-effective way to monitor radionuclides in waters.
In addressing the global problem of radioactive pollution in the ocean, Wu and his team selected three radioactive substances - uranium, strontium, and caesium - as research targets in 2022.
The team then placed the AMs in seawater containing varying concentrations of radionuclides in an attempt to test the devices' absorption and releasing abilities.
It only takes 7 to eight weeks for the AMs to complete the absorption process, according to a series of experiments. The radioactive substances were released on returning to clean seawater, showing that the device could provide a reliable estimate of the concentration and distribution of these radionuclides in seawater.