Studies of iron,cobalt and chromium distribution in some continental aquatic ecosystems and biological materials

The aim of the present work was to investigate iron, cobalt and chromium distribution in samples of living and non-living matter by using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Investigations were carried out starting with water systems components, such also specias living in these systems and biological tissues from rat and human organs. The following conclusions have been drawn for elements distribution in the relation enviromment/living matter: (1) iron, cobalt and chromium contents in plankton are very close to these found in suspended materials; (2) among all the investigated living organisms, the highest contents of investigated elements have been found in fish; (3) inspite of the contents of iron, cobalt and chromium being somewhat lower in bentos and crustacea than in suspended materials, all the obtained values are very close, and (4) human liver has somewhat higher iron- and cobalt-contents than rat liver, which, however, has higher chromium concentration. Of all the investigated living organisms chromium content was the lowest in human liver.