Evaluation of the factors involved in bioaccumulation of gamma-emmitting radionuclides in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginanus). Final report

Technical Report · Wed May 18 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:5160613

Jenkins, J H

The objectives of the work were to: determine the amounts and kinds of fallout gamma emitting radionuclides in an important food and sport animal, the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the southeastern U.S.A.; elucidate some of the food chain interrelationships around the year; and see if a relationship exists between bioaccumulation in deer, the soils, the deer foods available, the rumen contents, and uptake in man. Whole body counters were constructed to measure the gamma rays emitted by animals varying in size from warblers (10 grams) and cotton rats (100 grams) up through live deer and people. Over 1800 deer from throughout the Southeast were analyzed. Deer from the Flatwoods sub-type of the Lower Coastal Plain region often have /sup 137/Cs levels exceeding those reported for Alaskan Caribou at their peak and /sup 90/Sr is as effectively transported through the Lower Coastal Plains environment as /sup 137/Cs. Detailed studies have been conducted on two sites (Piedmont and Lower Coastal Plain) to determine the characteristics of soil and vegetation contributing to biomagnification.

• Research Organization: Georgia Univ., Athens (USA). School of Forest Resources
• OSTI ID: 5160613
• Report Number(s): SRO-642-6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIRDS
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
DEER
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
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INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
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MAMMALS
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NUCLEI
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PRIMATES
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
RUMINANTS
SOILS
STRONTIUM 90
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES
WILD ANIMALS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES