Activity concentrations of 131I and other radionuclides in cow's milk in Belarus during the first month following the Chernobyl accident. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Minenko, Victor; Viarenich, Kiryl; Zhukova, Olga; Kukhta, Tatiana; Podgaiskaya, Marina; Khrutchinsky, Arkady; Kutsen, Semion; Bouville, André; Drozdovitch, Vladimir
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental radioactivity. Volume 220/221(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Chernobyl -- Cow's milk -- Total beta-activity -- 131I -- 134Cs -- 137Cs -- 89Sr -- 90Sr; Radioactivity -- Periodicals; Radiation, Background -- Periodicals; Radioecology -- Periodicals; Radioactive pollution -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollutants -- Periodicals; Radioactive Pollutants -- Periodicals; Radioactivity -- Periodicals; Radioécologie -- Périodiques; Pollution radioactive -- Périodiques; Fond de rayonnement -- Périodiques; 539.752
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106264
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-931X

Abstract

Abstract: The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) in Ukraine on April 26, 1986 led to a considerable release of radioactive material resulting in environmental contamination over vast areas of Belarus, Ukraine and western Russian Federation. The major health effect of the Chernobyl accident was an increase in thyroid cancer incidence in people exposed as children and adolescents, so much attention was paid to the thyroid doses resulting from intakes of 131 I. Because cow's milk consumption was the main source of 131 I intake by people, it was important to measure the 131 I activity concentrations in cow's milk to calculate, or to validate, the thyroid doses to the exposed population. Almost 11, 000 measurements of total beta-activity in cow's milk were performed using a DP-100 device during the first month after the Chernobyl accident in the most contaminated regions of Belarus. Using an ecological model and calibration coefficients for the DP-100 device the activity concentration of 131 I in cow's milk was derived as well as the activity concentrations of the other radiologically important radionuclides, namely 134 Cs, 137 Cs, 89 Sr and 90 Sr. The activity concentrations of other radionuclides, such as 90 Y, 132 Te, 132 I, 133 I, 136 Cs, 140 Ba, 140 La, 141 Ce and 144 Ce, in cow's milk were also estimated and were shown to be of minor importance. The concentrations of 95 Zr, 95 Nb, 103 Ru and 106 Ru in cow's milk were negligible. The data obtained in this study were validated by comparing derived 131 I and 137 Cs concentrations in cow's milk with gamma-spectrometry measurements performed in milk produced in the same location close to the same date. The results of this study were essential to assess and validate the radiation doses received by the subjects of epidemiological studies related to the health consequences of the Chernobyl accident. Highlights: First comprehensive estimation of the activity concentrations of 131 I and other radionuclides in cow's milk after the Chernobyl accident. Calibration coefficients for the DP-100 device were estimated using a Monte Carlo method of numerical simulation for a broad list of radionuclides. Measurements of total beta-activity in cow's milk were processed to derive the concentration of radionuclides, including 131 I, 134 Cs, 137 Cs, 89 Sr and 90 Sr. The estimated concentrations of 90 Y, 95 Zr, 95 Nb, 103 Ru, 106 Ru, 132 Te, 136 Cs, 140 Ba, 140 La, 141 Ce and 144 Ce, in cow's milk were of minor importance.