Radioactive foodchains in the subarctic environment. Final report
In a period of increasing body burdens this project elucidated in great detail the radioactivity of the diet and tissues of reindeer and of reindeer herding Lapps, who consume large amounts of reindeer muscle and other tissues. The detailed and precise results made possible accurate forecasts of the change of radioactivity on all trophic levels and in the critical items of the foodchains elucidated. The accurate and reliable forecasts were made possible by a detailed knowledge of all environmental and dietary factors involved. The reliable forecasts made possible correct early decisions regarding eventual application of protective measures for reduction of the extra dose from /sup 137/Cs to the population group submitted to the highest extra dose, the adult male reindeer herders. The decision made was: no protective measures were necessary or recommendable, although a few individuals' dose commitment from /sup 137/Cs in the body exceeded 350 mrem/y in 1965. Any protective measure which would have cast some doubt on the safety of reindeer meat as human food from radiation point of view could have jeopardized its markets. Since the Lapps' only income was reindeer meat their loss of income would have caused them much greater health hazards than the temporary extra radiation dose which would only grow to 1 rem/30 years. This project also elucidated the relatively high natural radiation dose Lapps have always received from /sup 210/Po (e.g. in genitals 2500 mrem/30 y). This nuclide is cumulated in lichen from natural fallout and becomes just like /sup 137/Cs enriched into reindeer (particularly its liver) and Lapps. /sup 210/Po approximately doubles the natural background dose of Lapps in comparison to non-reindeer consumers.
- Research Organization:
- Helsinki Univ. (Finland). Dept. of Radiochemistry
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 5573829
- Report Number(s):
- COO-3011-11
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
553000 -- Agriculture & Food Technology
560151 -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALGAE
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ANIMALS
ARCTIC REGIONS
BACKGROUND RADIATION
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY BURDEN
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CONTAMINATION
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DEER
DIET
DISTRIBUTION
DOSES
ECONOMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FOOD CHAINS
FORECASTING
FUNGI
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
HUMAN POPULATIONS
ISOTOPES
LAPPS
LICHENS
MAMMALS
MASS TRANSFER
NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PLANTS
POLAR REGIONS
POLONIUM 210
POLONIUM ISOTOPES
POPULATIONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATIONS
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOISOTOPES
RUMINANTS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES