Accumulation of plutonium in mammalian wildlife tissues following dispersal by accidental-release tests

Johansen, M.P.; Child, D.P.; Caffrey, E.A.; Davis, E.; Harrison, J.J.; Hotchkis, M.A.C.; Payne, T.E.; Ikeda-Ohno, A.; Thiruvoth, S.; Twining, J.R.; Beresford, N.A.. 2016 Accumulation of plutonium in mammalian wildlife tissues following dispersal by accidental-release tests [in special issue: ICRER Barcelona 2014] Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 151 (2). 387-394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.03.031

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.03.031

Abstract/Summary

We examined the distribution of plutonium (Pu) in the tissues of mammalian wildlife inhabiting the relatively undisturbed, semi-arid former Taranaki weapons test site, Maralinga, Australia. The accumulation of absorbed Pu was highest in the skeleton (83% ± 6%), followed by muscle (10% ± 9%), liver (6% ± 6%), kidneys (0.6% ± 0.4%), and blood (0.2%). Pu activity concentrations in lung tissues were elevated relative to the body average. Foetal transfer was higher in the wildlife data than in previous laboratory studies. The amount of Pu in the gastrointestinal tract was highly elevated relative to that absorbed within the body, potentially increasing transfer of Pu to wildlife and human consumers that may ingest gastrointestinal tract organs. The Pu distribution in the Maralinga mammalian wildlife generally aligns with previous studies related to environmental exposure (e.g. Pu in humans from worldwide fallout), but contrasts with the partitioning models that have traditionally been used for human worker-protection purposes (approximately equal deposition in bone and liver) which appear to under-predict the skeletal accumulation in environmental exposure conditions.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.03.031
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Shore
ISSN:	0265-931X
Additional Keywords:	radioecology, plutonium, wildlife, bone, liver, particle, partitioning
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	17 Jul 2015 13:48 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/511242

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.03.031

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Shore

ISSN:

0265-931X

Additional Keywords:

radioecology, plutonium, wildlife, bone, liver, particle, partitioning

NORA Subject Terms:

Ecology and Environment