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Procedures for Identifying Infectious Prions After Passage Through the Digestive System of an Avian Species

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Radiocesium in Canadian game Birds Harvested during 1989-95.

T J Stocki¹, B M Braune²

¹Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, 775 Brookfield Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 1C1, Canada.

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

|October 1, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Radiocesium (¹³⁷Cs) levels in Canadian birds harvested between 1989-1995 were below safety limits, indicating no human health risk. This study analyzed contamination from fallout and Chernobyl, establishing baseline levels and transfer factors.

Keywords:

(137)Cs Aggregate transfer factors Canada Game birds Radiocesium Waterfowl

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Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Radiological Science
Wildlife Ecology

Background:

Historic dataset of ¹³⁷Cs (radiocesium) in 238 bird muscle samples from 1892 individuals across 37 species.
Samples collected from 173 Canadian locations (including Arctic) between 1989-1995.

Purpose of the Study:

Assess ¹³⁷Cs contamination in birds from global fallout and Chernobyl.
Determine baseline ¹³⁷Cs levels, considering trophic position and region.
Evaluate the safety of harvested birds for human consumption.

Main Methods:

Analysis of pooled pectoral muscle samples using gamma spectrometry.
Decay correction for sample collection dates.
Correlation of measurements with environmental ¹³⁷Cs and species' habits to determine transfer factors.

Main Results:

All ¹³⁷Cs measurements were below Health Canada's 1000 Bq kg^-1 guidance level.
No evidence of human health risk from radiocesium in harvested birds.
Environmental transfer factors determined for six foraging groups.

Conclusions:

Harvested Canadian birds pose no radiocesium health risk.
Established baseline ¹³⁷Cs levels and environmental transfer factors for various bird species and regions.
Data contributes to assessing radionuclide impacts on food chains.