Neutron flow effect on metabolic characteristics of Artemia salina cysts

The research object of this work is the effect of the background thermal neutron flux on metabolic rates of living systems on the example of the microelement composition of diapausing Artemia salina cysts. We have studied the metabolic characteristics of alive and dead A. salina cysts before and after artificial neutron flux exposure. The irradiation unit consisted of a neutron source INK1-06 (Cf-252, activity - 1.42 x10(4) n/s f 8%) with a lay of polyethylene for neutron thermalization. To assess the trace element composition of the cysts, a method of atomic absorption spectroscopy with electrothermal atomization and Zeeman background correction was used. It is demonstrated, that the concentrations of some metals in samples of alive, dead, and alive cysts irradiated with an artificial flow of thermal neutrons are not equal. The content of Mn in alive A. salina samples have increased more than 10-fold after their interaction with neutron flux, while the amount of As decreased by a factor of 2 after exposure. Levels of other elements (Al, Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd, Pb) did not show any significant difference.