Radioactivity measurements and dosimetric evaluation in meat of wild birds

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine the background activity concentration of natural radionuclides and ¹³⁷Cesium (Cs) in meat of 14 migratory birds originating from central and northern Europe. This meat is largely consumed by the Italian population. ⁴⁰K, ²¹⁰Pb, and ¹³⁷Cs were determined by gamma spectrometry and ²¹⁰Po by alpha spectrometry. The mean ⁴⁰K activity concentration detected was 490 ± 117 Bq/kg_dw. In all the samples, ²¹⁰Pb was below the limit of detection (LOD), and therefore it was not possible to calculate the ratio ²¹⁰Po/²¹⁰Pb. The ²¹⁰Po activity concentration ranged between 0.11 ± 0.02 Bq/kg_dw and 6.2 ± 0.93 Bq/kg_dw with a mean value of 1.03 ± 1.75 Bq/kg_dw. The ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration was not detectable or near LOD except in two samples with 45 ± 0.7 Bq/kg_dw (wood pigeon, from Italy) and 139.1 ± 1.9 Bq/kg_dw (woodcock, from Sweden). The effective dose of ²¹⁰Po ingested by consumption of wild birds meat accounts for only 0.01–0.6% of natural radiation exposure in Italy. These data indicate that the meat analyzed was safe.

Funding

This study was supported by Urbino University Carlo Bo.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Urbino University Carlo Bo.