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

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.

Cesium-137 in moose diet; considerations on intake and accumulation.

An attempt was made to estimate the daily intake of 137Cs by moose during different months and seasons, and to compare this result with the 137Cs activity concentration in moose muscles. Plants representative of moose diet in central Sweden showed a high 137Cs activity concentration compared with plants from agricultural systems, and there appears to be very slow reduction of 137Cs activity concentration in these forest plants. It seems that the daily intake of 137Cs was low during the summer, but it exhibited a peak in the autumn, which corresponds to the 137Cs activity concentration in moose muscles and also coincides with the hunting season.