Abstract:

In this report an analysis of fluoride content in Antarctic krill by using a colorimetric method with fluorine reagent is described. The krill samples were collected by the First Chinese South Ocean Research Expedition in 1984/85. The result shows that the Antarctic krill(Euphausia Superbd) contains considerably high fluoride. The highest fluoride value, 4303ppm in average, is found in its carapace, mean value, 1890 ppm,determined in cephalothorax,and average concentration 1191ppm is obtained in the whole raw E. Superba. But the lowest fluoride value, 370ppmin average,is foud in the krills muscle. The fluoride concentration in male krill is higher than that in female krill. It indicates that they have need to sorb different amount of fluorine. Fluoride content in the reposited frozen krill is 20 times higher than that designated by U. S. Food and Drug Administration. The fluoride concentration in peeled fresh muscle is 60 ppm only, about 16% of that in frozen krill muscle. The high fluoride content is a characteristic physiological function of various kinds of krills, including Antarctic krill and krill from other oceans.