Concentrations and dose rate estimates of {sup 134,137}cesium and {sup 90}strontium in small mammals at Chornobyl, Ukraine
- and others
Free-ranging mammals near the Chornobyl nuclear reactor are experiencing substantial radiation dose rates from intramuscular concentrations of {sup 134,137}Cs and skeletal {sup 90}Sr. Radiocesium concentrations averaged 3,200 Bq/g of dry muscle, compared to a mean of 297 Bq {sup 90}Sr/g in bone for mammals in the Exclusion Zone, a region of restricted human activity surrounding the reactor. Estimates of dose rates from intramuscular sources of radiocesium averaged 2.4 mGy/d within 8 km of the reactor and ranged as high as 60 mGy/d. Overall dose rates from internal {sup 90}Sr for mammals in the Exclusion Zone averaged 1.0 mGy/d, although doses to specific tissues are likely much higher. Mammals captured 30 km southeast of the reactor averaged only 2 Bq/g of muscle and were receiving an average of 1.4 {micro}Gy/d from internal radiocesium. Dramatic variation exists in the spatial pattern of radiocesium in areas immediately surrounding the reactor and within and between remediated and unremediated regions. The variance of {sup 90}Sr for taxa among sites was significantly less than that for {sup 134,137}Cs. Thermoluminescent dosimeters placed on free-ranging mice showed that dose rates from external sources of radiation were much greater than the dose rates from internal sources of radiocesium. Estimated dose rates in very small areas of the Chornobyl region exceed those reported to impede reproductive success in mammals.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC09-96SR18546
- OSTI ID:
- 20075814
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 19, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: Feb 2000; ISSN 0730-7268
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGANISMS AND BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
CESIUM 134
CESIUM 137
STRONTIUM 90
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIATION DOSES
CHERNOBYLSK-4 REACTOR
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
REACTOR SAFETY
MAMMALS
WILD ANIMALS