Health implications of radionuclide levels in cattle raised near U mining and milling facilities in Ambrosia Lake, New Mexico

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Health Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-198903000-00008· OSTI ID:6171125

Lapham, S C; Millard, J B; Samet, J M

This study was conducted to determine radionuclide tissue levels in cattle raised near U mining and milling facilities. Ambrosia Lake, New Mexico, has been the site of extensive U mining for 30 y and contains several underground U mines, a processing mill, and two large U tailings piles. Ten cows were purchased from two grazing areas in Ambrosia Lake and ten control animals were purchased from Crownpoint, New Mexico. Muscle, liver, kidney, and bone tissue taken from these animals, and environmental samples, including water, grasses and soil collected from the animals' grazing areas, were analyzed for /sup 238/U, /sup 234/U, /sup 230/Th, /sup 226/Ra, /sup 210/Pb, and /sup 210/Po. Mean radionuclide levels in cattle tissue and environmental samples from Ambrosia Lake were higher in almost every comparison than those found in respective controls. Liver and kidney tissues were particularly elevated in /sup 226/Ra and /sup 210/Po. Radiation dose commitments from eating cattle tissue with these radionuclide concentrations were calculated. We concluded that the health risk to the public from eating exposed cattle is minimal, unless large amounts of this tissue, especially liver and kidney, are ingested.

• Research Organization: New Mexico Health and Environment Dept., Santa Fe (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6171125
• Journal Information: Health Phys.; (United States), Vol. 56:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL TISSUES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
FOOD CHAINS
CONTAMINATION
LEAD 210
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
POLONIUM 210
RADIUM 226
THORIUM 230
URANIUM 234
URANIUM 238
CATTLE
MILL TAILINGS
NEW MEXICO
RISK ASSESSMENT
URANIUM MINES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
CARBON 14 DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISTRIBUTION
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION VI
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LEAD ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MINES
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
POLONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIUM ISOTOPES
RUMINANTS
SOLID WASTES
TAILINGS
THORIUM ISOTOPES
TISSUES
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
URANIUM ISOTOPES
USA
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560162* - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Animals
Plants
Microorganisms
& Cells