![^4^0K, ^1^3^7Cs, ^9^0Sr, ^2^3^8^,^2^3^9^+^2^4^0Pu and ^2^4^1Am in mammals' skulls from owls' pellets and owl skeletons in Poland [An article from: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity]](https://www.ebooknetworking.net/books/noimage.jpg)
^4^0K, ^1^3^7Cs, ^9^0Sr, ^2^3^8^,^2^3^9^+^2^4^0Pu and ^2^4^1Am in mammals' skulls from owls' pellets and owl skeletons in Poland [An article from: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity]
Description
This digital document is a journal article from Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, published by Elsevier in 2004. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Description:
Skulls of small mammals belonging to two species of rodents and three species of insectivores collected in Eastern Poland were the subject of the present investigation. The skulls were separated from owl pellets. Activities of ^4^0K, ^1^3^7Cs, ^9^0Sr, ^2^3^8^,^2^3^9^+^2^4^0Pu and ^2^4^1Am were determined by means of gamma spectrometry as well as liquid scintillation spectrometry or alpha spectrometry along with relevant radiochemical procedures. A detailed description of the procedures is provided. The research was supplied with the analysis of three skeletons of owls. No measurable difference between the skulls of rodents and insectivorous animals with regard to activity of any of the examined radionuclides was found. No accumulation effect in the owl skeletons was detected. Though measured activities of ^1^3^7Cs and ^4^0K for the skulls were of the same magnitude as those found previously for large wild herbivorous animals from typical locations in Poland, those for ^9^0Sr were even lower than previously determined. A big difference was found for activities of plutonium and americium isotopes. Their mean activities were higher by an order of magnitude when compared to the examined previously values. The maximum ^2^3^9^+^2^4^0Pu activity was equal to 97.5+/-7.7 mBq/kg, with 65% of it originating from global fallout. Relatively high content of transuranic elements found for rodents and insectivorous mammals seems to be unrelated to their feeding habits and should rather be attributed to the living conditions. It is suggested that small mammals, together with tiny soil particles present in mid-soil living tunnels, can inhale the transuranic elements.
Description:
Skulls of small mammals belonging to two species of rodents and three species of insectivores collected in Eastern Poland were the subject of the present investigation. The skulls were separated from owl pellets. Activities of ^4^0K, ^1^3^7Cs, ^9^0Sr, ^2^3^8^,^2^3^9^+^2^4^0Pu and ^2^4^1Am were determined by means of gamma spectrometry as well as liquid scintillation spectrometry or alpha spectrometry along with relevant radiochemical procedures. A detailed description of the procedures is provided. The research was supplied with the analysis of three skeletons of owls. No measurable difference between the skulls of rodents and insectivorous animals with regard to activity of any of the examined radionuclides was found. No accumulation effect in the owl skeletons was detected. Though measured activities of ^1^3^7Cs and ^4^0K for the skulls were of the same magnitude as those found previously for large wild herbivorous animals from typical locations in Poland, those for ^9^0Sr were even lower than previously determined. A big difference was found for activities of plutonium and americium isotopes. Their mean activities were higher by an order of magnitude when compared to the examined previously values. The maximum ^2^3^9^+^2^4^0Pu activity was equal to 97.5+/-7.7 mBq/kg, with 65% of it originating from global fallout. Relatively high content of transuranic elements found for rodents and insectivorous mammals seems to be unrelated to their feeding habits and should rather be attributed to the living conditions. It is suggested that small mammals, together with tiny soil particles present in mid-soil living tunnels, can inhale the transuranic elements.
