Small mammals as biological indicators of radioactive contamination of the environment.

ABSTRACT

An investigation was carried out in Sweden aimed at studying the contamination of small mammals (orders Rodentia and Insectivora) following the Chernobyl accident. The animals were captured in three differently contaminated areas in Sweden and, for control, in an area with negligible fallout. The results obtained show that the activity in the captured animals was correlated with surface deposition. The differences between the species investigated and the influence of feeding habits on the contamination levels are discussed.