RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT AND THE MILK SUPPLY

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1962 · Journal of the Society of Dairy Technology (England)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0307.1962.tb01022.x· OSTI ID:4747331

Burton, J D

The consequences of atmospheric releases of radioactivity and, in particular, the important nuclides in worldwide fallout and their movement in food chains are discussed. The main deposition of worldwide fallout is in rain, and concentration of radioactivity in rainwater at a given time is fairly constant over a region of moderate size. As a result, it was found that variations in deposition within the United Kingdom are closely related to the average amount of rainfall in different parts of the country. The food chain on land is illustrated, and the difference between short- and long-lived nuclides is discussed. Considerable discussion is devoted to Sr/sup 90/ in the food chain, including presence in soil, uptake by plants, significance in human diet, and presence in milk. The milk sampling program in the United Kingdom since 1958 is explained, and seasonal trends in Sr/sup 90/ content are graphed for 1958 through 1960. It is pointed out that the radiological significance of Cs/sup 137/ in the food chain is considerably less than is that of Sr/sup 90/. Since I/sup 131/ has a short half life, entry into the diet by direct uptake only is considered. It is pointed out that I/sup 131/ can be important only when relatively fresh fission products have been deposited. (P.C.H.)

• Research Organization: Agriculture Research Council, Wantage, Berks, Eng.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-017745
• OSTI ID: 4747331
• Journal Information: Journal of the Society of Dairy Technology (England), Journal Name: Journal of the Society of Dairy Technology (England) Vol. Vol: 15; ISSN JSDTA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ATMOSPHERE
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CESIUM 137
CONTAMINATION
DIET
DIFFUSION
FALLOUT
FISSION PRODUCTS
FOOD
HALF-LIFE
IODINE 131
LIFETIME
MAN
MILK
PLANTS
RADIOISOTOPES
RAIN
SOILS
STRONTIUM 90
VARIATIONS
WATER