Milk distribution and feeding practice data for the PATHWAY model

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Health Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199011000-00014· OSTI ID:6315487

Ward, G M; Whicker, F W ^[1]

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1. Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins (USA)

Milk is a major source for ingestion of several radionuclides, particularly when it is produced from fresh forage. Estimation of radionuclide ingestion via milk from Nevada Test Site fallout events in the 1950s required information on the sources of milk, feeding practices for cows, and elapsed time between milking and consumption for various geographic areas. These data were essential input to the food-chain model, PATHWAY. A data base was compiled from personal interviews. Milk sources included private cows, local dairies, and regional plants that collected from and distributed to wide geographic areas. Estimates of the contribution of each source were made for communities in a nine-state area. Pasture seasons varied from 3 to 6 mo. Pasture use varied from zero to 80% of the cows' diet. Pasture use declined during the 1950s, as did the number of family cows and local dairy plants. Regional distributors captured a larger portion of the market, and improved technologies increased the shelf life of milk. These factors tended to reduce the human intake of fallout radionuclides from milk in the latter part of the 1950s.

• OSTI ID: 6315487
• Journal Information: Health Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Health Physics; (USA) Vol. 59:5; ISSN 0017-9078; ISSN HLTPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560162* -- Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology-- Animals
Plants
Microorganisms
& Cells
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONTAMINATION
FALLOUT
FOOD
FOOD CHAINS
MATERIALS
MILK
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEVADA TEST SITE
P CODES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
SIMULATION
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS