Uranium series radionuclides, polonium-210 and lead-210, in the lichen-caribou-wolf food chain of the Northwest Territories
This report examines baseline concentrations and transfer of the uranium decay products polonium-210 and lead-210 in the lichen-caribou-wolf food chain at two locations in the Northwest Territories, Baker Lake and Snowdrift. At each location, concentrations of the two radionuclides were determined in the lichen species Cetraria nivalis and Cladina mitis, and several tissues from caribou and wolves. Baseline concentrations and transfer coefficients within the food chain were compared between the two locations. Lichen samples were also collected from Kasba Lake, a third hunting ground used by northern Saskatchewan hunters. The lichen species chosen were common forage for caribou. Both the predominant lichen species at each location and rumen contents were used to estimate the winter diet of caribou in the calculation of transfer coefficients. The results are relevant to environmental monitoring in areas of potential future uranium mining development and the transfer coefficients determined in the study may be used to estimate radionuclide concentrations and radiation doses in future environmental assessments.
- Research Organization:
- Environment Canada, Prairie and Northern Region, Regina, Saskatchewan (Canada); Atomic Energy Control Board, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada); Dept. of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)
- OSTI ID:
- 658786
- Report Number(s):
- MIC--98-05438/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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