Radiocesium in Swedish reindeer after the Chernobyl fallout: Seasonal variations and long-term decline
- Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala (Sweden)
Data about {sup 137}Cs activity concentrations in reindeer muscle were collected from different parts of Sweden during 1986-1992. The data were used to evaluate seasonal and geographical variations and long-term decline of {sup 137}Cs in reindeer. The seasonal variation is shown in an example from one of the most contaminated areas, the Saami community Vilhelmina Norra, where {sup 137}Cs activity concentrations in reindeer during winter exceed those found during summer by about 20 times. Activity concentrations of {sup 137}Cs in reindeer were fairly well correlated to ground deposition. The ratio between {sup 137}Cs in reindeer (kBq kg{sup -1} wet weight) and ground deposition (kBq m{sup -2}) was calculated to be 0.76 m{sup 2} kg{sup -1} for the winter period, January-April, in 1987. Activity concentrations of {sup 137}Cs in reindeer decreased significantly during the years 1986-1992. The decline was generally more rapid during September, November, and December [corresponding to an effective ecological half-life (T{sub Eff}) of 3.2 y] than during January-April when T{sub Eff} was calculated to 4.2 y. There was a general trend toward a slower decrease during the last of the observed years. 42 refs., 5 figs., 2 tabs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 249939
- Journal Information:
- Health Physics, Vol. 66, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: May 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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