The Accumulation and Elimination of Radiocesium by Naturally Contaminated Wood Ducks

Abstract

The accumulation of radiocesium was studied in hand-reared wood ducks which were released into a South Carolina swamp habitat which had been contaminated with production reactor effluents. The uptake of radiocesium by the ducks was described as:In pCi radiocesium/g live body weight = 0.36 + 0.18 (days). There was no effect of sex on uptake rate. The average estimated time required to attain practical equilibrium (0.90 Q,) was 17.3 days, with a range from 10.2 to 26.8 days. Ducks which were recaptured after attaining equilibrium concentrations in the field (averaging 16.6 pCi radiocesium/g live body weight) showed single-component elimination-rate curves when confined in a seminatural pen for elimination studies. Radiocesium elimination under penned conditions was described as: In YO initial body burden = 4.60-0.13 (days). Elimination-rate and body weight showed a negative linear correlation for the penned birds although there was no effect of sex on loss-rate. Radiocesium biological half-times for the penned ducks averaged 5.6 days with a range from 3.2 to 9.3 days. Calculations based on biological half-times determined from studies with the penned birds, were successful in accurately predicting both the levels and rates of radiocesium accumulation by free-living birds in the field.

Comparison of Two Freshwater Turtle Species as Monitors of Environmental Contamination

“…Positive correlations exist between the weight of the turtle and the elimination rate, and between weight and the concentration of the radionuclide in the turtle (initial body burden) (Peters and Brisbin 1988). No relationship was found be-tween elimination rate and the sex of the turtle (Peters and Brisbin 1988) which is consistent with that reported in birds (Fendley et al 1977).…”

“…A comparison of the biological half-life of '37Cs in turtles to that in several other taxa revealed that it was greater than that for birds (Fendley et al 1977, Halford et al 1983 and wild mammals (Jenkins et al 1969). The longer retention of 13'Cs in turtles is consistent with the slower metabolic rate in the poikilothermic turtles.…”

Radiocesium Dynamics in Herons Inhabiting a Contaminated Reservoir System

“…6.7 days was determined for older (7+days) little blue heron nestlings. This estimate is similar to estimates for other birds-wood ducks, Aix sponsa, .f = 5.6 days, range 3.2-9.3 days (Fe76), and blue jays, Cyanocitta cristutu, .f = 6.1 days, range 3.2-9.1 days (Le75). An assimilation rate of between 45 and 51% was estimated for the little blue heron.…”

Method for Simultaneous 90sr and 137cs in-Vivo Measurements of Small Animals and Other Environmental Media Developed for the Conditions of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

“…Soon after the nuclear accident that occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) Cs content have been conducted for the whole body of animals, specifically, in fish (Hadderingh et al 1996;Belyaev 2001), birds (Brisbin et al 1973;Straney et al 1975;Levy et al 1976;Domby et al 1977;Fendley et al 1977;Craig et al 1979;Halford et al 1983;George et al 1990;Millard et al 1990;Kennamer et al 1993;Moss and Horrill 1996), and mammals (Richmond 1980). For this purpose, gamma spectrometric systems (or pulse counting devices) were developed and thoroughly calibrated, Sr and 137 Cs in-vivo measurements in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone 3 which was a feasible but not necessarily easy task.…”