Abstract
A technique was developed for the measurement of levels of caesium radionuclides (137Cs + 134Cs) in live reindeer, cattle, and sheep and in carcasses from these species. The instrument used was a sodium iodide scintillation detector coupled to a portable multi-channel analyser. Based on a combination of background measurements and measurements of impulses from animals with the detector in different anatomical positions we recommend the following procedures: LAMB: The detector placed on os sacrum (standing animal). REINDEER: The detector placed between the hind legs (animal lying on its side). CATTLE: The detector placed on the back of the standing animal, midway between os sacrum and trochanter major. Average geometrical factors for live animals were estimated. It was a linear correlation between measured activity levels in meat samples and counted impulses per sec in live animals. Geometrical factors were estimated at 95% confidence level with uncertainty between 6-14%. The detection limits varied between 50-200 Bq (becquerel)/kg in areas with ground depositions between 5-200 kBq/m2. Since the winter 1986/87 the technique has been the standard procedure for monitoring slaughter animals and carcasses for radiocaesium activity concentrations.
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