Radioactive contamination in feral dogs in the Chernobyl exclusion zone: Population body-burden survey and implications for human radiation exposure.
PLoS One
; 18(7): e0283206, 2023.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37471331
ABSTRACT
This report describes a two-year effort to survey the internal 137Cs and external ß-emitter contamination present in the feral dog population near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (ChNPP) site, and to understand the potential for human radiation exposure from this contamination. This work was performed as an integral part of the radiation safety and control procedures of an animal welfare oriented trap-neuter-release (TNR) program. The measurement program focused on external contamination surveys using handheld ß-sensitive probes, and internal contamination studies using a simple whole-body counter. Internal 137Cs burden was measured non-invasively during post-surgical observation and recovery. External ß contamination surveys performed during intake showed that 21/288 animals had significant, removable external contamination, though not enough to pose a large hazard for incidental contact. Measurements with the whole-body counter indicated internal 137Cs body burdens ranging from undetectable (minimum detection level â¼100 Bq/kg in 2017, â¼30 Bq/kg in 2018) to approximately 30,000 Bq/kg. A total of 33 animals had 137Cs body-burdens above 1 kBq/kg, though none posed an external exposure hazard. The large variation in the 137Cs concentration in these animals is not well-understood, could be due to prey selection, access to human food scraps, or extended residence in highly contaminated areas. The small minority of animals with external contamination may pose a contamination risk allowing exposures in excess of regulatory standards.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Temas:
Agentes_cancerigenos
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Contaminação Radioativa de Alimentos
/
Monitoramento de Radiação
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Liberação Nociva de Radioativos
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Exposição à Radiação
/
Acidente Nuclear de Chernobyl
Limite:
Animals
/
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
PLoS One
Assunto da revista:
CIENCIA
/
MEDICINA
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos