Abstract:

The aim of the study is to investigate the existing form and the partitioning pattern of fluoride in krill (Euphausin superba) by analysing the fluoride and other elements in various part of klill, primarily to approach the potential accumulation mechanism and the effect of fluoride in klill on the geochemical characteristics of fluoride in the Antarctic ecoenvironment. The results of the study show that the amount of flu oride in various part of krill has a considerable difference. Most of fluoride is enriched in the carapace, up to 4028μg/g, and the head and legs, respectively 2724μg/g and 2828μg/g. The muscle contains the least fluoride with amount of 226μg/g. The amount of fluoride in whole freeze- dried krill is averagely 1232μg/g, which indicates that the functional position of fluoride in krill is mainly located at the crust. Only a few of fluoride is found in the chitin of the carapaces (200μg/g), which exhibits that fluoride in the carapaces exists mostly in the form of the nonchitious constituent.In addition, the varition and emichment of fluoride is related closely to some other elements such as P, Ca. Thus, fluoride in the carapaces is likely to exist as the form of the inorganic salt with P and Ca. It is also estimated from the study that a slightl yhigher concentration of fluoride in seawater and lower in sediment of the area relative to other oceans is possibly affected by the enrichment of fluoride in the huge storage of krill in the area. The bioprocesses and precipitation with relation to the activity of krill should be very important and key section to the geochemical cycling of the fluoride in Antarctic ocean.