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Title: Concentrations and dose rate estimates of {sup 134,137}cesium and {sup 90}strontium in small mammals at Chornobyl, Ukraine

Abstract

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. Estimatedmore » dose rates in very small areas of the Chornobyl region exceed those reported to impede reproductive success in mammals.« less

Authors:
; ;  [1]
  1. and others
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (US)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
20075814
DOE Contract Number:  
FC09-96SR18546
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 19; Journal Issue: 2; Other Information: PBD: Feb 2000; Journal ID: ISSN 0730-7268
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; 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

Citation Formats

Chesser, R K, Sugg, D W, and Lomakin, M D. Concentrations and dose rate estimates of {sup 134,137}cesium and {sup 90}strontium in small mammals at Chornobyl, Ukraine. United States: N. p., 2000. Web. doi:10.1897/1551-5028(2000)019<0305:CADREO>2.3.CO;2.
Chesser, R K, Sugg, D W, & Lomakin, M D. Concentrations and dose rate estimates of {sup 134,137}cesium and {sup 90}strontium in small mammals at Chornobyl, Ukraine. United States. https://doi.org/10.1897/1551-5028(2000)019<0305:CADREO>2.3.CO;2
Chesser, R K, Sugg, D W, and Lomakin, M D. 2000. "Concentrations and dose rate estimates of {sup 134,137}cesium and {sup 90}strontium in small mammals at Chornobyl, Ukraine". United States. https://doi.org/10.1897/1551-5028(2000)019<0305:CADREO>2.3.CO;2.
@article{osti_20075814,
title = {Concentrations and dose rate estimates of {sup 134,137}cesium and {sup 90}strontium in small mammals at Chornobyl, Ukraine},
author = {Chesser, R K and Sugg, D W and Lomakin, M D},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1897/1551-5028(2000)019<0305:CADREO>2.3.CO;2},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20075814}, journal = {Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry},
issn = {0730-7268},
number = 2,
volume = 19,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2000},
month = {Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2000}
}