Gaca Paweł, Mietelski Jerzy W, Kitowski Ignacy, Grabowska Sylwia, Tomankiewicz Ewa
Henryk Niewodniczański Institute of Nuclear Physics, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, E Radzikowskiego 152, 31 342 Kraków, Poland.
J Environ Radioact. 2005;78(1):93-103. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2004.01.032.
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 40K, 137Cs, 90Sr, 238,239+240Pu and 241Am 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 137Cs and 40K for the skulls were of the same magnitude as those found previously for large wild herbivorous animals from typical locations in Poland, those for 90Sr 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 239+240Pu 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.
属于两种啮齿动物和三种食虫动物的小型哺乳动物的头骨是本次调查的对象，这些头骨取自波兰东部收集的猫头鹰粪便。通过伽马能谱法以及液体闪烁能谱法或阿尔法能谱法并结合相关放射化学程序，测定了40K、137Cs、90Sr、238、239 + 240Pu和241Am的活度。文中提供了程序的详细描述。该研究还对三个猫头鹰骨架进行了分析。在任何一种被检测的放射性核素的活度方面，未发现啮齿动物和食虫动物的头骨之间存在可测量的差异。未检测到猫头鹰骨架中有积累效应。虽然所测头骨中137Cs和40K的活度与之前在波兰典型地点的大型野生食草动物中发现的活度大小相同，但90Sr的活度甚至低于之前测定的值。钚和镅同位素的活度存在很大差异。与之前检测的值相比，它们的平均活度高出一个数量级。239 + 240Pu的最大活度等于97.5±7.7 毫贝克勒尔/千克，其中65%来自全球沉降物。在啮齿动物和食虫哺乳动物中发现的超铀元素含量相对较高，这似乎与它们的饮食习惯无关，而应归因于生活条件。有人认为，小型哺乳动物连同生活在土壤中层隧道中的微小土壤颗粒，可能会吸入超铀元素。
