Countermeasures for radiocesium in animal products in Norway after the Chernobyl accident - techniques, effectiveness, and costs

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199605000-00007· OSTI ID:283158

Brynildsen, L I ^[1]; Selnaes, T D ^[2]; Strand, P ^[3]; Hove, K ^[4]

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1. Norway/Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine, Olso (Norway)
2. Inst. for Energy Technology, Kjeller (Norway)
3. Norwegian Radiation Protection Authorityk Osteras (Norway)
4. Agricultural Univ. of Norway, As (Norway)

Nine years after the reactor accident in Chernobyl contamination by radiocesium is still a significant problem in sheep and reindeer production in Norway. To reduce the impact of the accident, effective countermeasures had to be developed and implemented. The levels of radiocesium in meat were reduced by a combination of countermeasures such a special feeding, use of cesium binders (bentonite and Prussian blue), and changing of slaughtering time. The countermeasures were labor intensive and expensive. Costs per averted dose per person-Sv were calculated to range from NOK 1,000 to 100,000 (7 NOK = $1 U.S.), with the use of cesium binders being the least expensive and condemnation of meat the most costly. Dietary advise, which did not include any compensation costs, had a cost of NOK 40 per person-Sv. Apart form the rejection of meat in 1986, countermeasures were deemed to be justified on a cost-benefit basis (less than NOK 600,000 per person-Sv). 26 refs., 1 fig., 4 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 283158
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 70; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BINDERS
CESIUM 137
CONTAMINATION
COST
DECONTAMINATION
FEEDING
FOOD CHAINS
INGESTION
MAN
MEAT
NORWAY
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
RADIATION DOSES
SHEEP
SOILS