Long-term dynamics of radioactive 90Sr and 137Cs contamination of small mammals in the Chernobyl zone

Between 1986 and 1994, a decrease in nonalimentary ^sup 90^Sr and ^sup 137^Cs intake and changes in the accessibility of radionuclides in the soil-plant link of their cycle resulted in a 10-to 100-fold decrease in their specific activity (SA) in the bodies of small mammals inhabiting the Chernobyl z...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inRussian journal of ecology Vol. 38; no. 3; pp. 181 - 189
Main Authors Maklyuk, Yu. A., Maksimenko, A. M., Gashchak, S. P., Bondarkov, M. D., Chizhevskii, I. V.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer Nature B.V 01.05.2007
Subjects
Cesium radioisotopes
Mammals
Radioactive pollution
Small mammals
Strontium radioisotopes
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Between 1986 and 1994, a decrease in nonalimentary ^sup 90^Sr and ^sup 137^Cs intake and changes in the accessibility of radionuclides in the soil-plant link of their cycle resulted in a 10-to 100-fold decrease in their specific activity (SA) in the bodies of small mammals inhabiting the Chernobyl zone, and a similar decrease was observed in the radionuclide transition factor (TF) in the soil-animal chain. Between 1995 and 2005, no consistent increase or decrease in SA or TF could be revealed against the background of a combined effect of different physicochemical and ecological factors. It is suggested that subsequent changes in the level of radioactive contamination of small mammals will generally reflect only the dynamics of physical ^sup 90^Sr and ^sup 137^Cs decay, but, nevertheless, seasonal and local variations in this level will be significant.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1067-4136
1608-3334
DOI:10.1134/S106741360703006X