Journal article · Conference paper
Background radiation dose-rates to non-human biota in a high mountain habitat in Norway
Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority1
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research2
Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark3
Radiation Research Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark4
Radioecology and Tracer Studies, Radiation Research Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark5
Determination of background radiation dose-rates is important in the process of assessing risks to the environment from exposure to human activities both in terms of deriving the incremental dose-rate and as a point of reference for evaluating the significance of the exposure level. A consideration of the available literature on naturally occurring radionuclides in wild plants and animals quickly illustrates a paucity of data coverage in numerous cases.
Most notable is the lack of comprehensive information for the important dose-forming radionuclides such as 210Po and 210Pb. In order to collate data concerning these radioisotopes for components of the ecosystem, field work was conducted in a semi-natural, mountainous location in central Norway. Preliminary (since no correction was made for ingrowth from 210Pb) whole-body activity concentrations of 210Po in 2 species of small mammal were commensurate with activity concentrations reported for reindeer muscle sampled at proximate locations, falling at a level of some 10s of Bq kg-1 by fresh weight.
Statistical analyses of the data showed that bank vole and shrew 210Po data constitute different populations with different mean ranks. Unweighted dose-rates attributable to the presence of internally distributed 210Po were calculated to be 0.07 μGy h-1 for Bank vole.
Language: | English |
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Year: | 2009 |
Pages: | 197-202 |
Proceedings: | ECORAD 2008 International Conference on Radioecology and Environmental Radioactivity |
ISSN: | 1769700x and 00338451 |
Types: | Journal article and Conference paper |
DOI: | 10.1051/radiopro/20095040 |