Radioactive contamination of the environment and its effects on livestock and food of animal origin

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1973 · Arch. Lebensmittelhyg., v. 24, no. 5, pp. 104-108

OSTI ID:4327155

Kreuzer, W

External and internal natural radiation exposure seems to be relatively and absolutely higher in livestock, mainly in herbivores, than in man. The artificial internal and external radiation exposure hardly exists in animals, even not in the vicinity of nuclear reactors. The external radiation exposure resulting from the radionuclides of the fallout of nuclear weapon experiments was negligibly small in Central Europe. The internal radiation exposure after intake of radionuclides with food of animal origin and their accumulation in the organism of the consumer is important. Milk and dairy products may contain considerable amounts of/sup 131/I, /sup 137/Cs, and /sup 90/Sr. In meat, /sup 137/Cs-contaminations were found sporadically that were higher than the permissible maximal dose. In total, the artificial radiation exposure did not yet reach the dimensions of the natural radiation exposure, neither in livestock nor in men, even not in reindeers or their breeders in Lapland, where the extreme /sup 137/Cs-contamination of the lichen causes high /sup 137/Csactivity, both in reindeers and in reindeer breeders who live almost exclusively on meat, blood, and milk of the animals. The radioactive contamination of livestock and food of animal origin may cause concern in case of a crisis or emengency. (GE)

• Research Organization: Univ., Munich
• NSA Number: NSA-29-029389
• OSTI ID: 4327155
• Journal Information: Arch. Lebensmittelhyg., v. 24, no. 5, pp. 104-108, Journal Name: Arch. Lebensmittelhyg., v. 24, no. 5, pp. 104-108; ISSN ALMHA
• Country of Publication: Germany
• Language: German

Related Subjects

*CATTLE-- RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
*CESIUM 137-- RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
*ENVIRONMENT-- RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
*FOOD CHAINS-- RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
*FOOD-- CONTAMINATION
*IODINE 131-- RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
*STRONTIUM 90-- RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FALLOUT
FISSION PRODUCTS
MAN
N44340* --Environmental & Earth Sciences--Radioactivity Monitoring & Transport--Ecosystems & Food Cycles
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
RADIATION HAZARDS