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Measurement of the transfer coefficient for radiocesium transport from a sheep's diet to its milk

Journal Article · · Health Phys.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5649870

The rate of increase and decay of radio contamination secreted in sheep's milk, resulting from a constant level of radiocesium in the animals' diet, was investigated. Ten lactating ewes were used in the experiment. For a period of 12 d the animals fed on contaminated grass, resulting in a daily radiocesium intake of 832 Bq per animal. They were subsequently returned to a contamination-free diet and were monitored for another 9 d. Throughout the period of the experiment, /sup 134/Cs and /sup 137/Cs concentrations in the animals' milk were measured daily with an 18% efficiency, high-resolution Ge detector. The data were in satisfactory agreement with the predictions of a simple two-compartment theory. The transfer coefficient, describing the steady-state equilibrium in this model, was measured as fm = 0.058 +/- 0.007 dL-1.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Ioannina, Greece
OSTI ID:
5649870
Journal Information:
Health Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Health Phys.; (United States) Vol. 53:6; ISSN HLTPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English