title: A rapid method for the determination of radioactive caesium in live animals and carcasses, and its practical application in Norway after the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident.
abstract: A technique was developed for the measurement of levels of caesium radionuclides (137Cs + 134Cs) in live reindeer, cattle, and sheep and in carcasses from these species. The instrument used was a sodium iodide scintillation detector coupled to a portable multi-channel analyser. Based on a combination of background measurements and measurements of impulses from animals with the detector in different anatomical positions we recommend the following procedures: LAMB: The detector placed on os sacrum (standing animal). REINDEER: The detector placed between the hind legs (animal lying on its side). CATTLE: The detector placed on the back of the standing animal, midway between os sacrum and trochanter major. Average geometrical factors for live animals were estimated. It was a linear correlation between measured activity levels in meat samples and counted impulses per sec in live animals. Geometrical factors were estimated at 95% confidence level with uncertainty between 6-14%. The detection limits varied between 50-200 Bq (becquerel)/kg in areas with ground depositions between 5-200 kBq/m2. Since the winter 1986/87 the technique has been the standard procedure for monitoring slaughter animals and carcasses for radiocaesium activity concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Agriculture, Division of Veterinary Services, Osterås, Norway.
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Brynildsen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D002417:Cattle; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005507:Food Contamination, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011847:Radioactive Fallout; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D012053:Reindeer; D012756:Sheep; D014455:Ukraine
chemical_list: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D011847:Radioactive Fallout