Radionuclide uptake and growth of barn swallows nesting by radioactive leaching ponds

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Health Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199004000-00005· OSTI ID:6945014

Millard, J B; Whicker, F W; Markham, O D ^[1]

---

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

Populations of barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) nested seasonally near the Test Reactor Area (TRA) radioactive leaching ponds on the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. These birds utilized leaching pond arthropods as a food source and contaminated mud for nest construction. Over 20 fission and activation products were detected in immature and adult TRA birds. The radionuclide exhibiting the highest mean concentration in adult birds was 51Cr, with 16.1 Bq g-1. Mean concentrations of detectable radionuclides were used to calculate internal dose rates. Approximately 72% of the total dose rate of 219 microGy d-1 (22 mrad d-1) for adult birds was due to 24Na. Swallow thyroids contained a mean 131I concentration of 3330 Bq g-1. An average dose rate to the thyroid was calculated to be 4300 microGy d-1 or 450 mGy (45 rad) for the entire breeding season. Data from LiF-700 thermoluminescent dosimeters in swallow nests indicated that average dose rates were 840 microGy d-1 for eggs and 2200 Gy d-1 for nestlings, for a total of 54 mGy (5.4 rad) during the nesting period. The breeding biology and growth rate were investigated for TRA swallows and comparison group located 15 km and 100 km away. Total mortality rates for the comparison group vs. 1976 and 1977 TRA populations were not found to be significantly (p greater than 0.9) different. Nonlinear regression was used to fit individual growth curves and estimate parameters using a logistic model. First clutch TRA swallows were found to have a significantly lower mean growth rate compared to either the first clutch comparison group or the second clutch of TRA birds. Mean asymptotic weights achieved by immature TRA birds were also found to be significantly lower than those achieved by comparison group birds. Both growth rate and asymptotic weights for TRA birds were within the normal range reported in the literature.

• OSTI ID: 6945014
• Journal Information: Health Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Health Physics; (USA) Vol. 58:4; 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.
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIRDS
BODY
CHROMIUM 51
CHROMIUM ISOTOPES
CONTAMINATION
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISTRIBUTION
DOSEMETERS
DOSES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FOOD CHAINS
GLANDS
GROWTH
IDAHO NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INVERTEBRATES
IODINE 131
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
LUMINESCENT DOSEMETERS
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANS
POLLUTION
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
SECONDS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
SODIUM 24
SODIUM ISOTOPES
THERMOLUMINESCENT DOSEMETERS
THYROID
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
WATER POLLUTION