Transfer of {sup 210}Po and {sup 210}Pb through the lichen-caribou-wolf food chain of northern Canada
- Univ. of Saskatchewan (Canada)
- Environmental Associates, Calgary, Alberta (Canada)
Natural background activity and food chain transfer of the uranium decay products, {sup 210}Po and {sup 210}Pb, were examined in the lichen-caribou-wolf food chain at two locations in the Northwest Territories of Canada. {sup 210}Po and {sup 210}Pb activities in lichens differed with species and location. Both {sup 210}Po and {sup 210}Pb were markedly higher in caribou bone than in wolf bone. {sup 210}Po activities in liver, kidney, and muscle were similar in both species. Caribou fetuses had lower activities of {sup 210}Po but higher activities of {sup 210}Pb than maternal muscle and placenta, suggesting greater placental transport of {sup 210}Pb than {sup 210}Po. Concentration ratios (CR = Bq kg{sup {minus}1} in consumer/Bq kg{sup {minus}1} in its food source) and f{sub f} values (f{sub f} in d kg{sup {minus}1} = Bq kg{sup {minus}1} in muscle/Bq d{sup {minus}1} ingested) showed that wolves retain more {sup 210}Po and less {sup 210}Pb from their diet than do caribou. {sup 210}Po CRs averaged 0.38 for caribou/lichens, 0.26 for caribou/rumen contents, and 0.40 for wolves/caribou. {sup 210}Pb CRs averaged 0.36 for caribou/lichens, 0.57 for caribou/rumen contents, and 0.13 for wolves/caribou. 43 refs., 4 figs., 5 tabs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 229708
- Journal Information:
- Health Physics, Vol. 66, Issue 6; Other Information: PBD: Jun 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Regional variation in radiation dose to caribou in the Canadian north: 1992--94
Dosimetry of {sup 210}Po in humans, caribou, and wolves in northern Canada