The transfer of 137Cs, Pu isotopes and 90Sr to bird, bat and ground-dwelling small mammal species within the Chernobyl exclusion zone

Beresford, NA; Gaschak, S; Maksimenko, A; Wood, M

Abstract

Protected species are the focus of many radiological environmental assessments.
However, the lack of radioecological data for many protected species presents a
significant international challenge. Furthermore, there are legislative restrictions on
destructive sampling of protected species to obtain such data. Where data are not
available, extrapolations are often made from ‘similar’ species but there has been little
attempt to validate this approach.
In this paper we present what, to our knowledge, is the first study purposefully designed
to test the hypothesis that radioecological data for unprotected species can be used to
estimate conservative radioecolgical parameters for protected species; conservatism being
necessary to ensure that there is no significant impact.
The study was conducted in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Consequently, we are able to
present data for Pu isotopes in terrestrial wildlife. There has been limited research on Pu
transfer to terrestrial wildlife which contrasts with the need to assess radiation exposure
of wildlife to Pu isotopes around many nuclear facilities internationally.
Our results provide overall support for the hypothesis that data for unprotected species
can be used to adequately assess the impacts for ionising radiation on protected species.
This is demonstrated for a range of mammalian and avian species. However, we identify
one case, the shrew, for which data from other ground-dwelling small mammals would
not lead to an appropriately conservative assessment of radiation impact. This indicates
the need to further test our hypothesis across a range of species and ecosystems, and/or
ensure adequate conservatism within assessments.
The data presented are of value to those trying to more accurately estimate the radiation
dose to wildlife in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, helping to reduce the considerable
uncertainty in studies reporting dose-effect relationships for wildlife.
A video abstract for this paper is available <a href="http://bit.ly/1JesKPc">here</a>.

Citation

Beresford, N., Gaschak, S., Maksimenko, A., & Wood, M. (2016). The transfer of 137Cs, Pu isotopes and 90Sr to bird, bat and ground-dwelling small mammal species within the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 153, 231-236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.12.027

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 30, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Jan 22, 2016
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jan 12, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 11, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
• Print ISSN: 0265-931X
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-1700
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 153
• Pages: 231-236
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.12.027
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.12.027
• Related Public URLs: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-environmental-radioactivity/
• Additional Information: Projects : Transfer-Exposure-Effects (TREE)