Potassium and caesium-137 distributions in Angus steer carcasses

Abstract

Seven Angus steers were reared under controlled conditions, slaughtered and their carcasses dissected. Muscles, fat, bones, connective tissues and samples of the steers' diet were measured by gamma spectrometry and the concentrations of potassium and caesium-137 determined. Significant variations in the concentration of each element were found both within and between tissues. Average potassium concentration was about four times greater in the muscle tissue than in the remainder of the carcass. Caesium/potassium ratios were similar in both Caesium/potassium ratios were similar in both bone.The main conclusions reached were as follows:(1) The variations of potassium concentrations in muscle may impose limitations on the potassium-40 technique for estimating muscle content of the living animal for scientific purposes, though not necessarily for estimating commercial value.(2) Differences between animals in caesium-137 content of muscle were fairly consistent over the different muscle groups, and bore some relationship to caesium intake. This indicates that it may be possible to utilize caesium content of a representative muscle to monitor caesium-137 fallout in remote regions of Australia, where milk is not produced.